Sino-Indian Relations and EU Development Policies in Post-Conflict Nepal

Abstract

Since the establishment of official ties in 1973, the European Union (EU) has emerged as an important development partner for Nepal. The EU was instrumental during the Nepali Civil War, as it pressured both parties to maintain restraint and encouraged political dialogue. After the signing of the peace agreement in 2006, the EU facilitated the post-war reconstruction and political reconciliation in Nepal by actively promoting the need for an inclusive constitution. Despite enjoying substantial political support within Nepal, as this chapter showcases, the EU’s normative role is constrained by the significant geopolitical influences of Nepal’s powerful neighbors, India and China. Given the competing interests of the two emerging powers, the EU thus operates in a country that is part of a regional geopolitical tussle.