Brussels, Sep 29 (IANS) India and the European Union will open a new chapter in their parliamentary relations with the visit of European Parliament (EP) president Josep Borrell to India from Saturday.

"We are entering a new era. This visit to India has always been one of the priorities of my presidency. My visit is a proof of our wish to reinforce ties and mutual knowledge. The present level of knowledge is insufficient", Borrel said before leaving for India.

Calling for an annual EU-India parliament summit to run parallel or prior to the annual EU-India summit, Borrell noted that the last EP president to visit India was 13 years ago. The first EP-Lok Sabha meeting was held in 1981.

During his visit, Borrell is expected to discuss issues such as globalisation, fight against terrorism, energy, security and environment with Indian officials.

Borrell told INEP agency: "Bombay (Mumbai), like New York and Madrid, was chosen for a horrific attack last July, which, on behalf of the European Parliament, I firmly condemned. India and the EU have to face the same challenges posed by globalisation.

"I wish to say how impressed we are in the EU with the economic achievements of India. This has a significant impact upon EU-India trade and economic relations for the benefit of both sides."

The EP President will visit New Delhi, Agra, Thiruvananthapuram and Hyderabad from Sep 30 to Oct 6.

Borrell will meet President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Vice President Bhairon Singh Shekhawat, Lok Sabha speaker Somnath Chatterjee, Finance Minister P. Chidambaram, and Commerce Minister Kamal Nath during his visit.

The 12th EU-India inter-parliamentary meeting took place in Strasbourg on July 5-6, 2005. The India-EU Parliamentary Forum was launched in April 2005 to provide close interaction between political leaders of both sides.

The EP is the only elected institution in the European Union. It has 732 members from the 25 member states of the EU.