- Negotiations
The European Union and India launched negotiations on a bilateral free trade and investment agreement in June 2007. However, between the governments, a number of controversies have been plaguing the talks. Delhi wants Brussels to relax its stringent food safety criteria which penalise Indian farm and fishery exports and to make it easier for Indian professionals to work in the EU. Europe is primarily out to win major openings of India’s services sector and broad liberalisation of foreign investment, while India does not want to discuss allowing European firms to compete in India’s government procurement market.
Indian social movements, including fisherfolk and labour unions, people living with HIV/AIDS and other health activists have been mobilizing against the FTA. International actions and campaigns have particularly targeted the proposed intellectual property provisions of the agreement, and the impact of the FTA on access to medicines.
last update: May 2012
Photo: MSF
21-Jul-2012
India’s Ministry of Commerce is confident of concluding the Free Trade Agreement with the European Union by the end of the year.
10-Jul-2012
ZDNet
Country upset over European Union’s decision to examine if it’s "data secure" before committing to bilateral free trade agreement aimed at boosting outsourcing flow between region and India.
26-Jun-2012
DNA India
At the meeting with the European Trade Commission on June 26 in Brussels, the Indian delegation, headed by commerce minister Anand Sharma, will focus on the government’s achievements including opening up single-brand retail to foreign direct investment.
24-Jun-2012
PTI
India and EU are scheduled to take stock of the much-delayed negotiations on the proposed free trade agreement at a meeting in Brussels on Tuesday.
20-May-2012
In a bid to fast track the much-delayed negotiations for the proposed free trade agreement between India and European Union, commerce minister Anand Sharma will hold comprehensive discussions with EU trade commissioner Karel De Gucht next month in Brussels.
10-May-2012
Automobile industry body SIAM today cautioned that the sector will miss targets of the Automotive Mission Plan 2006-16 if it is included in the proposed free-trade agreement with the European Union for allowing imports of vehicles at lower duties.
1-Apr-2012
India will not concede to EU’s demand that European companies be allowed to participate in procurements made by public sector enterprises in the country as part of a free trade agreement being negotiated.
25-Feb-2012
Economonitor
The internal documents of the European Commission reveal the disgraceful attempts to push for higher levels of commitments in trade in industrial goods and agricultural products, services and investment liberalisation, geographical indications and government procurement under the proposed India-EU free trade agreement.
22-Feb-2012
IMFMetal
International Metalworkers Federation South Asia Office organized a workshop on EU India Free Trade Agreement on February 14 and 15 in New Delhi. Representatives of Indian national trade union centres and Indian affiliates of IMF, BWI, ITGLWF, UNI, ICEM exchanged views on trade policies and implications for development and employment with IMF affiliates from France, Italy, Canada, Argentina and Japan.
