CONTENTS
- European Council
- Project-76
European Council
Context:
Recently, the Prime Minister of India congratulated H.E António Costa on being elected as next President of the European Council.
Relevance:
GS II: International Relations
About the European Council:
- Role and Purpose:
- The European Council is the institution of the European Union that sets the general political direction and priorities of the EU.
- Establishment:
- Formed in 1974 as an informal forum for discussion among heads of state or government of the EU member states.
- Gained formal status and role under the Treaty of Maastricht to provide political impetus and guidelines for the EU.
- Headquarters:
- Located in Brussels, Belgium.
- Membership:
- Composed of the heads of state or government of the 27 EU member states, the President of the European Council, and the President of the European Commission.
- Meetings:
- Typically convenes four times a year, with the President able to call additional meetings to tackle urgent matters.
- Decision-Making:
- Decisions are generally made by consensus, but in some cases, unanimity or qualified majority voting is used. Only heads of state or government have voting rights.
Functions:
- Sets the EU’s overall political direction and priorities but does not pass laws.
- Handles complex or sensitive issues that cannot be resolved through lower levels of intergovernmental cooperation.
- Establishes the EU’s common foreign and security policy, considering strategic interests and defense implications.
- Nominates and appoints candidates for significant EU roles, such as positions in the European Central Bank (ECB) and the European Commission.
Project-76
Context:
The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has taken up a preliminary study on the design and development of an indigenous conventional submarine under Project-76.
Relevance:
GS III: Defence
About Project-76:
- Objective:
- Project 76, initiated by the Warship Design Bureau of the Indian Navy, aims to design and develop India’s first indigenously built conventional diesel-electric submarine.
- Scope:
- The plan includes constructing 12 submarines under Project 76.
- Design Features:
- These submarines will incorporate air-independent propulsion (AIP) systems and are expected to have a submerged displacement of 3,000 tons, surpassing the capabilities of their foreign-designed predecessors from Projects 751 and 75.
- They will succeed the Sindhughosh (Kilo) class, maintaining a robust 3,000-ton class.
- Technological Advancements:
- Expected features include advanced indigenous weapon control systems and lithium-ion batteries.
- Significance:
- Represents a crucial milestone in India’s pursuit of maritime dominance.
- Combines cutting-edge French technology from Project 75 with German and Spanish expertise from Project 751.
- Aims to start prototype construction by 2028.
- Strategic Importance:
- Enhances India’s submarine-building capabilities.
- Reduces dependence on foreign Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) for submarine design.
