- 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
7-Dec-2010
Economic Times
The much-awaited free trade agreement (FTA) between India and the European Union is unlikely to be ready for inking when Prime Minister Manmohan Singh visits Brussels for a summit with the 27-nation bloc Friday, German Ambassador Thomas Matussek said here on Monday.
7-Dec-2010
KangaOnline
Marking strong protest against the proposed signing of the European Union-India Free Trade Agreement on IP Provision, a mass protest rally was taken out today jointly by the Centre for Social Development in collaboration with organisation working on drugs and HIV/AIDS, North East Diaglogue Forum, Women Action for Development and Bosco Mangal, Chingmeirong Don Bosco Society, Imphal.
4-Dec-2010
A mass rally cum public meeting was held today at Moirang in protest against the proposed EU-India Free Trade Agreement and Violence against Women which was jointly organized by the North East Dialogue Forum, New Life Foundation, Social Action Platform, Women Group against Discrimination and Women Action for Development.
3-Dec-2010
Focus/ICR
This new report from Focus on the Global South in collaboration with Intercultural Resources explores the dynamics within traditional small scale fisheries in the context of the controversial negotiations for a Free Trade Agreement between the European Union and India.
29-Nov-2010
With the pressure on for the European Union (EU) and India to come up with a significant announcement at the upcoming EU-India summit on December 10, a flurry of activity surrounding the ongoing negotiations for a bilateral free trade agreement (FTA) is giving momentum to the process.
29-Nov-2010
dpa
India’s Commerce and Trade Minister Anand Sharma and EU trade commissioner Karel De Gucht will meet in Brussels on Monday to take stock of the negotiations for a comprehensive trade agreement, the PTI news agency reported.
28-Nov-2010
Hueiyen News
Hundreds of people participated in a mass rally marched down the streets in Moreh, today in protest against the ongoing EU-India Free Trade Agreement.
26-Nov-2010
LiveMint
Agreement delayed because of economic crisis in Europe and unresolved issues between the two sides
22-Nov-2010
Telegraph
Indian and European Union officials are meeting this week to settle their differences on the free trade agreement (FTA) at the earliest.
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.
