From correspondents in Brussels, Belgium, 09:00 PM IST

Dipak Chatterjee, India's outgoing ambassador to the European Union, has said it will take some time for India to change its view that the EU is merely an economic and trading bloc.

'I don't think India has fully woken up to the fact that the EU is more than an economic and trading partner. The EU is trying to build a political identity for itself. I think it will take some time for India to come to understand that,' Chatterjee told EuAsiaNews in an exclusive interview before leaving Brussels Saturday.

He added, however, that 'the fault is not ours', noting that the 27-member European bloc has not been able to build a common foreign policy till now.

The EU's foreign policy largely rests with member states like Britain, Germany and France, he said.

'But India is realising that the EU is a force to reckon with. There is interest on both sides to develop relations,' he stressed.

Chatterjee took over his assignment as India's ambassador to Belgium, Luxembourg and the European Union Sep 13, 2005. He was a member of the 1966 batch of the Indian Administrative Service and was allotted the West Bengal cadre.

Just prior to being appointed India's ambassador, Chatterjee served as the commerce secretary in the government of India and later as adviser to the ministry of commerce and industry in the rank of secretary.

'It was a long 42 years in the government. I think I have earned a very good rest and I am looking forward to my retirement,' he told EuAsiaNews.

'It was a totally new experience for me. Not being a regular member of the diplomatic core. It was a new kind of experience. I used to deal with foreign governments earlier, but this was completely different. I enjoyed it,' he said

Chatterjee voiced his pleasure that certain initiatives that he took, like the EU-India free trade agreement (FTA), will be completed in the next few years.

'There is fairly good progress. In one year's time it (FTA) should be signed,' he said.

Commenting on his three years' experience, he said: 'It has been a big pleasure living in Belgium. The people are very hospitable and nice. I liked it here. The small Indian community is very friendly. We interacted with them intensely. There is a lot of interest about Belgium in India'.

On the problems that Indians face in obtaining a visa for Belgium, he said New Delhi was discussing the matter with the Belgian government to resolve it.

(Staff Writer, © IANS)