- 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
16-Jan-2013
CEO
In an oral hearing at the EU’s General Court in Luxembourg on Friday, 11 January 2013, the EU Commission defended its practice of sharing sensitive information with big business lobby groups while withholding the same information from the general public.
14-Jan-2013
Sangal Express
A public discussion on the Free Trade Agreement between India and the European Union held today at Waiton Community hall in Manipur insisted that the matter should be deliberated thoroughly at the Parliament and State Assemblies and prior informed consent of the public should be obtained before signing the agreement.
13-Jan-2013
The long pending negotiations for the India-European Union free trade agreement may finally move ahead with the EU’s chief negotiator scheduled to visit New Delhi this week, amid positive signals emanating from the 27-nation bloc.
10-Jan-2013
IANS
Leading industrialists and members of government have gathered in New Delhi in a move to speed up signing of the free trade agreement between India and European Union (EU).
10-Jan-2013
The Hindu
The European Commission is set to appear before an EU Court on Friday, over access to information regarding negotiations on the EU-India Free Trade Agreement.
3-Jan-2013
Hueiyen News Service
Objecting to Indo-EU Free Trade Agreement which has been signed between Government of India and European Union in 2009, farmers in Manipur have decided to prevent implementation of the agreement and sent a memorandum to Central Government in this regard after a consultative meeting on Monday.
11-Dec-2012
CEO
The EU’s General Court has announced a date for the hearing for Corporate Europe Observatory’s legal action, suing the EU Commission for withholding information related to the EU’s free trade talks with India. The Commission is accused of discriminating in favour of corporate lobby groups and of violating the EU’s transparency rules.
26-Nov-2012
Heavy Industries Minister Praful Patel Monday said his ministry is agreeable to cutting duty on luxury cars imported from Europe as part of the proposed India-European Union free trade agreement.
18-Oct-2012
PTI
The much-delayed negotiations for the proposed free trade agreement between India and the EU are unlikely to conclude this year due to persisting differences over several issues such as opening up of the services sector and level of duty cuts in the automobile segment.
3-Oct-2012
SME Times
The German envoy to India Wednesday said the business communities of both countries have shown tremendous interest in completing the India-European Union free trade agreement.
