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EU-India

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


Data exclusivity still key hurdle to India-EU FTA
Despite all official assurances, the path towards a free trade agreement between India and the European Union this year remains ambiguous, as both sides are unwilling to relax their stand on the biggest stumbling block — the issue of “data exclusivity”.
India-EU trade agreement likely only by year-end
European Union ambassador to India Daniele Smadja on Friday said ongoing negotiations for the India-EU broad-based trade and investment agreement may not be concluded by April.
EU push for liberal patents finds favour with PMO
Hard lobbying by the European Union, home to many of the world’s largest pharmaceutical firms like Novartis, Sanofi-Aventis and Roche, has struck a chord with India’s Prime Minister’s Office, which is now ’putting pressure’ on a reluctant commerce and industry ministry to include a contentious IPR chapter in the proposed India-EU trade and investment pact.
New release of IPR chapter of India-EU free trade agreement
A draft of the IPR chapter of the EU-India FTA, made publicly available for the first time, provides insight into India’s response in July 2010 to several EU proposals on intellectual property protection and enforcement.
Joint report on the state of play of negotiations for an EU-India FTA
Presented to the EU-India Summit on 10 December 2010
Brussels closer to drinks trade deal with India
The EU-India FTA could represent a milestone for Europe’s spirits industry, which has long thirsted for a share of the world’s biggest whisky market.
Govt has no mandate to negotiate Indo-EU FTA: CPI(M)
The CPI(M) today said the government has "no mandate" to negotiate the Indo-European Union Free Trade Agreement (FTA) without consulting Parliament and political parties as it would adversely affect the economy and large sections of the people.
Q&A: Business Europe: ’India has advantage compared to the other BRIC countries’
Philippe de Buck, secretary general of Business Europe, the most influential EU industry lobby in the region, spoke to Pallavi Aiyar to reflect on the European businesses’ perspective on the potential trade accord.
People before profit: Broad civil society alliance calls on European Commission to halt EU-India FTA
On the eve of the 11th EU-India summit, a broad civil society alliance called on the European Commission and the Indian Government to immediately halt the ongoing free trade negotiations between India and the EU.
Negotiations on free trade with EU likely to conclude by March: Anand Sharma
"By March, we expect to conclude the negotiations on the free trade agreement," Commerce and Industry Minister Anand Sharma told PTI.