- 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
12-Nov-2010
IRIN
Alors que des responsables indiens et européens se rencontrent à Bruxelles pour mettre au point les détails d’un accord de libre-échange, des activistes de la société civile s’inquiètent que l’accord puisse déboucher sur une protection renforcée de la propriété intellectuelle qui pourrait réduire l’accès aux médicaments génériques indiens bon marché.
10-Nov-2010
MSF
MSF staff and supporters rally outside the offices of the European Commission to deliver an open letter of protest against ongoing trade talks between the European Union and India that could damage access to affordable medicines.
8-Nov-2010
Al Jazeera
How a trade deal being brokered between Europe and India could cut off the developing world’s supply of cheap medicines. Al Jazeera reports.
28-Oct-2010
Economic Times
The proposed India-EU free trade agreement continues to hang in balance as there is still no clarity on whether the European Parliament will ratify it without inclusion of non-trade issues such as child labour and environment.
14-Oct-2010
Vimeo
Against the backdrop of the 8th ASEM, the Belgian Platform for Action on Health and Solidarity held a protest action against the EU-India FTA during the Asia-Europe People’s Forum, in front of the European Commission in Brussels on 4 October 2010.
14-Oct-2010
Himalayan Times
National Association of People Living with HIV and AIDS in Nepal today urged the European Union and the Indian Embassy to withdraw intellectual property provision in the bilateral EU and India Free Trade Agreement that will undermine the production, registration and worldwide availability of essential generic drugs.
13-Oct-2010
JOTHI
The Indonesia PLHIV Network voices concerns over the EU-India FTA
13-Oct-2010
NAPN
NAPN and others in Nepal write to the Indian Prime Minister against the India-EU FTA
11-Oct-2010
PharmaBiz
Hundreds of public interest groups across the world have jointly urged prime minister Manmohan Singh not to sign the proposed free trade agreement (FTA) with European Union as the Centre’s role in medicines supply is under threat due to the intellectual property provisions included in the pact.
8-Oct-2010
Economic Times
Indian officials reserved their right on Thursday to escalate a trade dispute with the European Union over seizures of generic drugs after Indian media reported the row had been solved.
