- 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
11-Dec-2019
The Hindu Business Line
India and the EU need to sort out complex issues such as government procurement, labour standards and sustainability as part of the bilateral free trade talks that have been stuck for more than half a decade.
12-Nov-2019
The Hindu
Move follows govt. decision to pull out of RCEP; Europe sceptical about timeline.
6-Nov-2019
International The News
Thailand has already submitted a list of around 200 items to be traded between the two countries under the proposed Free Trade Agreement (FTA), but Pakistan government’s response and progress was waited.
6-Nov-2019
First Post
India should hold talks with the European Union for a free trade agreement, the government said on Tuesday, a day after it refused to join a China-backed regional trade pact for fear of a flood of cheap Chinese imports.
29-Oct-2019
DNA India
Modi, while speaking to the European MPs, called for "early conclusion of a fair and balanced BTIA" which he had termed a "priority for the government."
12-Aug-2019
The Economic Times
As the results of the elections in India and the elections to the European Parliament have been announced, it is high time for India and the EU to build on the momentum, intensify strategic dialogues, and enhance cooperation.
4-Mar-2019
Business Standard
The proposed India-EU free trade agreement cannot be finalised without an Indian commitment to lower import duties on cars and car parts, the EU Ambassador to India said.
19-Jul-2018
Times of India
The India-EU free trade agreement is on the verge of death. The two sides are expected to formally state, in diplomatic language, that FTA talks may no longer be resumed.
24-May-2018
Business Standard
Senior officials of India and European Union (EU) held detailed discussions on the long stalled negotiations for a proposed free trade agreement and updated each other on their positions, a government official said.
11-Apr-2018
MSF Access Campaign
Officials from the European Union (EU) and India are expected to meet in Brussels on April 12th to resume technical talks on the long-stalled EU-India free trade agreement (FTA). A leaked draft of the agreement, which has been under discussion since 2007, contains proposals from the EU that push for intellectual property (IP) provisions in the FTA that could jeopardize access to affordable medicines.
