The Union Cabinet today approved a string of agreements, including ones on people-to-people contact and environment protection, to be signed with France during the visit of its President Emmanuel Macron to India from March 9. One of the agreements cleared today relates to migration and mobility partnership between India and France and will be initially valid for a period of seven years. It incorporates provision for automatic renewal and a monitoring mechanism through a joint working group. "The agreement represents a major milestone in enhancing people-to-people contacts, fostering mobility of students, academics, researchers and skilled professionals and strengthening cooperation on issues related to irregular migration and human trafficking between the two sides," an official statement issued after the Cabinet meeting said. Another proposed agreement relates to facilitating mutual recognition of educational qualifications and periods of study undertaken by students in duly approved, recognised and accredited educational institutions in the two countries. The agreement will be instrumental in encouraging mobility of students from both the countries by facilitating possibilities for them to continue their studies in the other country and would also promote excellence in higher education through innovative partnerships and research activities. The Cabinet also gave its nod to an agreement with France on the prevention of illicit consumption and reduction of illicit traffic in narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances and chemical precursors. The MoU is aimed at enhancing mutual cooperation between the two countries in prevention of the illicit consumption of and reduction of illicit traffic in narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances and chemical precursors through exchange of information, expertise and capacity building. On the environment front, the proposed memorandum of cooperation approved today will enable establishment and promotion of closer and long-term cooperation between the two countries in the field of environment protection and management of natural resources on the basis of equity, reciprocity and mutual benefits. The proposed agreement is expected to bring in the latest technologies and best practices suited to bringing about better environment protection, better conservation, better management of climate change and wildlife protection, the statement said. The Cabinet was also apprised of the memorandum of understanding on cooperation in the field of renewable energy between India and Hellenic. The MoU was signed by External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and Nikos Kotzias, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Hellenic Republic during the latter's visit to New Delhi in November, 2017.
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