- 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
21-Jun-2017
Lexology
Recent events including the ongoing Brexit negotiations and the termination of investment treaties might however have a direct impact on the trade deal and one can expect negotiations to resume in the near future.
8-Jun-2017
The Hindu
As India prepares to resume FTA talks with the EU, a recent landmark decision by the European Court of Justice on investor-state dispute settlement assumes importance.
17-Apr-2017
The Hindu
EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini likely to strongly push for resumption of talks for the India-EU free trade agreement.
7-Dec-2016
The Hindu
New Delhi wants to re-negotiate all existing investment agreements
6-Dec-2016
India Today
Government is committed to an early and balanced outcome of India-EU Bilateral Trade and Investment Agreement negotiations.
14-Nov-2016
Reuters
A top European Union official sounded the alarm that efforts to revive talks on a trade deal with India could be derailed by the imminent expiry of several bilateral investment protection deals with its member states.
15-Jul-2016
Financial Express
Chief negotiators of the proposed India-EU free trade agreement (FTA) will meet to discuss the “way forward”, a senior commerce ministry official said.
6-Jul-2016
The Telegraph
Talks on the free trade agreement (FTA) between India and the European Union are set to resume.
8-Jun-2016
The TImes of India
European Commission (EC) has raised concerns over negotiations for a fresh bilateral investment treaty (BIT) with India saying that it may not be possible for individual member nations to sign new agreement.
1-Apr-2016
The Economic Times
India and EU have failed to made the much-awaited announcement on resumption of long stalled negotiations for a free trade agreement as many bottlenecks still remain.
