- 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
22-Sep-2022
The Hindu
India and the European Commission are eager to "expedite" the dialogue for the Free Trade Agreement.
19-Jul-2022
Hindustan Times
Indian and European Union negotiators working on a free trade agreement are seeking to forge convergence on complex issues such as digital trade, data protection and sustainable development.
8-Jul-2022
European Interest
EU Parliament states it welcomes the restart of talks on a trade agreement with India, and should happen only as long as European values and standards, including rule of law, democracy, as well as human, women’s and labour rights, are respected.
28-Jun-2022
Outlook
India and the European Union resumed negotiations, after a gap of over eight years, for a comprehensive free trade agreement.
27-Jun-2022
The Economic Times
While India and EU have set the ambition to conclude a comprehensive agreement, it must be acknowledged that there are fundamental differences in the design, or the template of the trade agreements signed by India and the EU so far.
20-Jun-2022
Live Mint
India and the European Union (EU) have resumed free talks for free trade agreement (FTA) after a nine years lull, the Ministry of Commerce and Industry said.
6-Jun-2022
Financial Express
After a gap of about nine years, India and the EU will likely resume the much-awaited negotiations for a proposed free trade agreement (FTA) from June 27, as both the sides eye a deal by next fiscal.
6-Jun-2022
The Print
The European Union (EU) is now looking to do more business with India by way of greater investments in Europe as tension with Russia over the Ukraine war and geopolitical concerns with China pose massive challenges to the bloc and the world at large.
10-May-2022
The Print
Council will focus on areas like 5G and AI, seek to deepen cooperation in trade and security. Experts say it’ll ’smoothen’ overall FTA negotiations between India and EU.
2-May-2022
The Indian Express
India and the European Union are set to hold an initial round of negotiations on a Free Trade Agreement in June with the aim of concluding an FTA by late 2023 or early 2024, EU Ambassador to India said.
