The joint motion included five different resolutions tabled by members of the European Parliament against India’s Citizenship Amendment Act.

The debate opened with a statement by Helena Dalli, the Vice-President of the European Commission and High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, who spoke strongly in favour of the “rich, frank and open” relationship the European Union (EU) shares with India.

She highlighted Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s upcoming visit to Brussels in March for the 15th India-EU Summit.

“We believe that it is the role of the Supreme Court of India to assess the compliance of the law with the Constitution and we are confident that the ongoing judicial process will contribute to appeasing the tensions and violence witnessed over the past weeks in the country,” said Dalli, who concluded the debate with a message to “pursue and intensify” dialogue with India as a “respected democracy” and valued EU partner.

Two Indian-origin MEPs, Dinesh Dhamija and Neena Gill, were among a host of members who spoke up in India’s favour to point out elements of “disinformation” around the CAA and the National Register of Citizens (NRC) within the parliamentary motion.