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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


In depth: EU deal threatens HIV drug supplies
How a trade deal being brokered between Europe and India could cut off the developing world’s supply of cheap medicines. Al Jazeera reports.
No clarity on proposed India-EU trade pact yet
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.
Protest action against the EU-India FTA - Brussels
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.
HIV victims send SOS to EU, India
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.
ARV AIDS drug is threatened in Indonesia
The Indonesia PLHIV Network voices concerns over the EU-India FTA
National Association of People Living with HIV in Nepal and friends in solidarity against the IPR provisions in the proposed India-EU FTA
NAPN and others in Nepal write to the Indian Prime Minister against the India-EU FTA
Nearly 250 NGOs across world urge PM to reject IP provisions in FTA with EU
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.
Govt says may still escalate EU drugs case
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.
People living with HIV lathi charged & arrested during demonstration against the EU-India FTA
As DNP+ members were proceeding towards the final “die in”, the Delhi police lathi charged (hit them with sticks) the HIV+ people and finally picked up five of the protestors. Few of the HIV+ people including a person suffering from spinal TB were beaten up by the police.
Activists decry India-EU IPR talks
Delhi Network of Positive People (DNP+) is staging a mass demonstration in front of Udyog Bhavan on Wednesday to protest against the inclusion of intellectual property (IP) provisions in the EU-India free trade agreement (FTA) which they fear will affect people’s access to affordable HIV/AIDS drugs.