- 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
8-Feb-2021
BusinessLine
India and the EU have discussed holding regular interactions for re-initiation of the bilateral trade and investment agreement with an interim agreement, to start with, according to an official statement.
29-Jan-2021
Euro Intelligence
The EU will be able to strike an investment deal with India, but a full-blown free trade agreement will be a much harder sell, said Portugal’s foreign minister.
8-Oct-2020
SME Times
Union Commerce & Industry Minister Piyush Goyal on Wednesday said that trade & economy is one of the most important pillars of India- European Union (EU) partnership, and India is looking forward enhancing this relation.
3-Aug-2020
EU Observer
The EU-India virtual summit took place last month with three ’elephants in the room’. The largest elephant was China. Both India and the EU have traditionally followed policies of cooperation with China, but ties have plumbed new depths during the pandemic.
15-Jul-2020
The Hindu Business Line
India and the EU may take a fresh look at the long-pending bilateral Broad-based Trade and Investment Agreement (BTIA) and see if a meeting ground could be reached and the talks taken forward when leaders meet at the India-EU Summit.
14-Jul-2020
Express
India has blasted the EU and Vietnam for ratifying a free trade agreement that would be "another blow" to Indian businesses.
10-Jul-2020
The Print
Bilateral trade and investment ties between India and the EU have become severely strained with the Modi government’s initial refusal to resume stalled negotiations on the proposed India-EU free trade agreement .
29-May-2020
The Tribune
India and the European Union on Thursday discussed preparations for a long-due summit meeting, which was postponed due to the Covid pandemic.
16-Dec-2019
BusinessLine
But the EU wants issues such as market access for automobiles, wines, and govt procurement issues resolved first.
11-Dec-2019
Outlook India
The European Union said it was hopeful of forward movement in negotiations with India on the long-pending free trade agreement, and favoured opening separate talks for an investment protection treaty.
