DYNAMICS OF INDIA-MIDDLE EAST –EUROPE-ECONOMIC CORRIDOR

 

AUTHORED BY – SHOURYA PRATAP SINGH & SUMIT KUMAR

 

 

Abstract:

This paper explores the different dimensions of the India-Middle East Europe Economic Corridor (IMEEEC), focusing on its economic, political, and socio-cultural implications. It analyzes the impact of IMEEEC on regional jurisprudence, examining the evolution of legal frameworks, challenges, and opportunities for participating nations. This paper tells that IMEEEC not a mere corridor but a giant of legal complication in the region so to analyze it is important to see it from different aspects and factors affecting it as well as the remedies which may prove to be helpful in its effective working.

 

Introduction:

On September 9, 2023 India Hosted G-20 summit under its Presidency in which a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) singed by India, European  Union (EU) , Germany, Italy ,France , USA , UAE , Saudi Arabia  as the participants and promised to work and to put collectively effort  in the formation of IMEEEC  comprising of  Rail lines , Sea Routs and Road Network([1]). It is new way to find out a most Optimum way to do trade within the region, While trade is important but we must address the geopolitical and legal challenges arising with it.

 

Historical Context:

IMEEEC is not a new idea but the Revival of the ancient and Vedic Routes which India used for the purpose of trade with west. These routes were Disrupted by the partition of India in 1947, the cold war, and the rise of China ([2])([3]) . India tried for a long to restore its connectivity from west with the help of these routes but wasn’t able to do so, some times because of its not so friendly Neighbour Pakistan or sometime because of Iran. While on the other hand India was also Facing the competition from (BRI) Belt and Road Initiative from China in 2013, to expand its influence and infrastructure in Eurasia (2)(3).

 

Economic and Political Implications:

IMEEEC is a BOON for the regional economy and trade as it connect the India, UAE, Saudi Arabia ,Jordon, Israel, Italy, France and Germany with each other and it is important to Remember they are connected to each other under  via long process which involves different and long ways like  Sea Routes, Railways and Land Routes .   IMEEEC can also enhance transportation efficiency, Reduce overall cost of the products, increase economic unity, will Generate more employment and will also reduce the green house effects and Gas emissions(4)(5).

 

IMEEEC can also act as a alternative to (BRI) belt and road initiative lead by India’s political rival china in the Eurasian region, which will counterbalance china’s growing economic and political influence , especially in re region with historically strong ties to the US(5).

 

It can also strengthen ties and integrate across continents and civilization and foster cooperation and dialogue among the participating countries and regions (4)(5).

 

Socio-Cultural Factors:

IMEEEC is a diverse corporation which include diverse legal traditions and norms which will further put affect on the legal cooperation between nations as it includes different Segment of the society such as women, youth, minorities, rural and urban population, this could pose challenges like potential for misunderstanding and conflicts fueled with prejudice. On the other hand this could also be foster mutual learning, Respect and Appreciation as well as a way to promote intercultural Dialogue and Exchange (4), which will result in the development of whole Region as one.

 

IMMEC could also influence the sense of identity and value of people and communities involved in it and also their Relation and understanding of each other. This could have positive or negative effects depending on how the project is perceived and implemented.

 

Alternatively, the IMEEEC could also be the trigger of violence in the region caused by the feeling of alienation prejudice or competition among the people and communities as well as their resistance or rejection of the changes and influence brought by the project([4])([5]).  These are some of the socio-cultural factors that could affect the IMEC, but they are not exhaustive or definitive. The actual socio-cultural implications of IMEC will depend on the progress and outcomes of the project, as well as the attitudes and behaviors of the people and communities involved in the project

 

Legal Framework:

The international agreements and treaties governing IMEEEC, emphasizing the role of bilateral cooperation and dispute resolution mechanisms. The legal framework of the IMEEEC is still under development as the participating countries and region are working on action plan to address the legal aspects of the project. However, some of the possible elements of the legal framework are:

 International agreements and treaties: These will define the scope, objectives, principles, and obligations of the IMEC, as well as the roles and responsibilities of the participating countries and regions. They will also establish the mechanisms for coordination, cooperation, and integration of the corridor, as well as the standards and norms for infrastructure quality, safety, security, and environmental protection ([6]).

 

Dispute resolution mechanism: This will be a forum for resolving any potential conflicts or issues that may arise among the stakeholders or beneficiaries of the IMEC, such as trade disputes, contractual disputes, or environmental disputes. The dispute resolution mechanism will be based on the principles of impartiality, transparency, and efficiency, and will use arbitration, mediation, or conciliation as the preferred methods of settlement ([7]).

 

Biotech corporation: This will be a joint venture of the participating countries and regions, which will aim towards the developing and deploying biotechnology solutions for the IMEEEC, such as clean hydrogen production, carbon capture and storage, and biofuels which will also the environment. This biotech cooperation will also include transfer of technology between countries which will further create opportunity in the market of bio Energy ([8]).

 

These biofule further open new market for a country and specific context to India a developing and immerging economy with in the region it opens the doors to several possibilities as it does not only contribute in the effective and efficient way to produce energy but also proposes a path towards carbon free environment.

 

Impact on Domestic Law

Here we will try to assess changes in domestic legal system, legislative amendments and shift in policy making due to related developments and formation of IMEEEC. But before that it is important to understand that formation of IMEEEC was done to make region more developed and prosperous but to do that the need to align or harmonize domestic laws with the international agreements and treaties governing IMEEEC is important in order to do common governing task, such as regulations on taxation, customs procedures, standards, norms to do things and a solid dispute resolution mechanisms for unforeseen circumstances([9])([10]).

 

It is high time by participant nations to recognize and address the need to revise or update existing domestic laws with in their country to accommodate the new opportunities and challenges created by IMEEEC, such as trade, investment, infrastructure, energy, environment and security(9)([11])([12]).

 

IMEEEC points out towards the need to create or adopt new domestic laws to facilitate the implementation and operation of IMEEEC, such as biotechnology, innovation of new ideas, digitalization and connectivity of the Region for thisn to happen there will be a need of new laws with in the region as per say ISRAEL which is one of the key member country is not seen in a very good light by the citizens of its fellow members like Saudi or UAE , here the argument of abram accords do come up time to time but that’s not enough for IMEEEC to work out successfully as for that to happen there should be some solid ground level statute and bunch domestic laws which prohibits protest against friendly nation like there is in India, as such law eliminates the potential of any future misunderstanding or prejudice from any side in anyway.   .

 

Challenges and Opportunities:

Now lets try to identify some of the legal challenges and opportunities in the path of collaboration which is fostering a harmonized legal approach are.

 

Issue of Israel- The potential disruption of the (IMEEEC) due to tensions between Israel and the Arab world could happen due to various factors in place like – instable diplomatic ties, Disparity between economic and infrastructural aspects and most importantly Aspect of Faith and Religion which has been the main cause of the instability with in the religion.

 

So in order of IMEEEC to succeed it is important to navigating the complex geopolitics of the region, which involves diverse nations with varying political dynamics, interests, and previous tensions. These complexities may hamper cooperation and hinder the development of seamless connectivity between the involved countries([13])([14]).

 

So, in order to achieve stability there will be a need to be resolving the legal and regulatory issues that need to be aligned or harmonized among the participating countries and regions, such as regulations regarding taxation, customs procedures, standards norms and dispute resolution mechanisms. This will require coordination and negotiation among multiple countries with diverse legal systems and administrative procedures which is going to take a lot of time and pose as a challenge in the progress of IMEEEC.

 

Managing the environmental and social impacts of a large scale project such as IMEEEC, which has a great potential for the greenhouse gas emissions, pollution, land acquisition, displacement of humans and animals a like and with the combination of human rights violations will act like a chakraview of Mahabharata (which was said to be unbreckable) for the participant nations as breaking it won’t be easy due to is complex nature. This will require technical and financial assistance, as well as monitoring and evaluation mechanisms with joint effort of all the participant nation as a one than only can it be possible.

 

Dealing with the ongoing conflicts and instability in the Middle East, such as the war between Israel and Hamas, the civil war in Syria, the rivalry between Iran and Saudi Arabia, and the opposition of the turkey for the IMEEEC can became a stone in the path of  IMEEEC success as in most of the participant country Hamas is still not legally reorganized as a terrorist organization but a Government of Gaza stripe so the war between Israel and Hamas can create future tension between participant nations themselves which may result in full scale conflict fueled by the pressure of the citizens of their own country in the name of religion while we also need to remember  that these geopolitical tensions may lead to reevaluation or renegotiation of legal agreements governing the IMEEEC and the parties involved in it may need to address emerging challenges and risks through legal mechanisms which will came out as a potentially cause delay in the progress of the project and the development of the region as whole. As the political sensitivity related to the Israel-Arab conflict can influence public opinion in participating countries. Governments may face domestic pressures that could impact their commitment to the economic corridor which can also result of complete disruption of IMEEEC as a whole and these tensions may hinder multilateral cooperation and collaboration among the nations involved and if regional organizations or forums are disrupted due to geopolitical issues, it can impede the coordination necessary for the success of the economic corridor while it is also important to remember that these issues can be solved by the combined effort and collaboration of all the key parties or  members of the IMEEEC.

 

When considering the formation and operation of the India Middle East Europe Economic Corridor IMEEEC, it is crucial to undertake a thorough examination of its environmental impact, alongside an evaluation of sustainability measures in place in order to protect our environment and balance growth of society as a whole and here we are going to take up some of the various challenges related to the environmental concerns specific to IMEEAC. Lets delves into potential consequences that could result from this corridor's creation while examining legal frameworks meant for addressing issues associated with sustainable standards.

Any significant infrastructure project like IMEEEC raises genuine environment-related cancers as construction activities connected with logistics hubs, transportation networks or supporting facilities can lead up-to habitat disruption deforestation which will ultimately will be resulting in  the increased carbon emissions of that area analyzing these paradigms becomes essential before determining ecological footprints involving such corridors as a large scale disruption of environment will not only affect the wild life but also the humans living in that area ,there few ways through which this problem can be solved like sustainable development practices.

 

Conclusion:

In conclusion, the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEEEC) represents a multifaceted endeavor with historical roots, economic implications, socio-cultural complexities, and evolving legal frameworks. The corridor's historical resurgence traces back to India's persistent efforts to restore ancient trade routes disrupted by undesired and unforeseen events like the partition, the Cold War, and China's rise in power. Beyond being a mere physical corridor, IMEEEC is a commitment to regional unity, offering an alternative to China's Belt and Road Initiative and initiative to establish balance with in the region of Eurasia Political and Economical.

 

IMEEEC's economic and political impacts are substantial, acting as a catalyst for growth, providing alternative connectivity, and countering China's influence. The corridor signifies a commitment to political cooperation, fostering dialogue among diverse nations of the region. However, its socio-cultural dynamics, encompassing diverse legal traditions and societal segments pose or comes out as a mix of both challenges and opportunities. IMEEEC’s transformative potential extends to the legal realm, necessitating the evolution of international agreements, dispute resolution mechanisms, and a novel approach to biotech cooperation a combination of these things with the joint effort of all the participant nations can result in success.

 

The impact on domestic law is profound, demanding alignment with international agreements and the creation of new laws to facilitate transformative sectors. IMEEEC not only seeks economic prosperity but also environmental sustainability through biotech cooperation which further opens endless possibilities of new ways to not only protect the environment but also the economy side by side in much easier way. However, challenges persist, from geopolitical tensions are affecting the IMEEEC corridor's stability to maintain its working while keeping environmental aspects in mind In essence, IMEEEC symbolizes a transformative journey, demanding collaborative efforts to overcome challenges and unlock its vast potential for regional and global development. As nations navigate the complexities of geopolitics, legal intricacies, and environmental considerations, the corridor emerges as a symbol of interconnected progress, reflecting the intricate balance required for success in the dynamic landscape of international cooperation.

 

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[1] https://www.icwa.in/show_content.php?lang=1&level=3&ls_id=10061&lid=6413

[2] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/India-Middle_East-Europe_Economic_Corridor

[3] https://www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpreter/history-repeats-new-old-economic-corridor-emerges

[4] https://www.drishtiias.com/daily-updates/daily-news-analysis/india-middle-east-europe-corridor

[5] https://arabcenterdc.org/resource/the-geopolitics-of-the-india-middle-east-europe-economic-corridor/

[6] https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/IMEC

[7] https://semi.org/en/resources/member-directory/imec

[8] https://www.geopoliticalmonitor.com/the-india-middle-east-europe-corridor-challenges-ahead/

[9] https://thediplomat.com/2023/09/the-india-middle-east-europe-corridor-in-europes-indo-pacific-strategy/

[10] https://ecfr.eu/article/intersections-of-influence-imec-and-europes-role-in-a-multipolar-middle-east/

[11] https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2023/09/impact-india-mideast-europe-corridor-extends-far-beyond-countering-china

[12] https://apcoworldwide.com/blog/the-g20s-imec-initiative-an-alternative-trade-corridor-to-chinas-belt-and-road-initiative/

[13] https://www.iiss.org/online-analysis/online-analysis/2023/11/obstacles-to-the-india-middle-east-europe-economic-corridor/

[14] https://www.geopoliticalmonitor.com/the-india-middle-east-europe-corridor-challenges-ahead/