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  1. Negotiations

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

Join the rally to oppose EU-India FTA!
9-Apr-2013    
Around 2000 people including people living with HIV (PLHIV), patient groups and public health activists will take to the streets and rally from Barakhamba road to Jantar Mantar at 11.00 am on 10 April 2013 to voice concerns and protest against harmful provisions being pushed by the EU-India FTA negotiations
FTA with European Union on PM's agenda, insurance cap a sticker
7-Apr-2013    
Increasing the insurance cap by India is virtually a "must" for inking of the long-pending India-European Union FTA, which has seen 15 rounds of negotiations since its launch in 2007.
Stop FTA talks with EU, demands CPI(M)
7-Apr-2013    
The Communist Party of India (Marxist) has expressed deep concern about negotiations on the Bilateral Trade and Investment Agreement (BTIA) between the European Union and India proceeding without any Parliament or other democratic institutions scrutinising it.
European Union sets tough conditions under FTA
1-Apr-2013     LiveMint
The gains accruing to the Indian generic drugs industry as a result of the Supreme Court judgement on the Novartis case may be lost if India accepts demands by the European Union (EU) under the proposed free trade agreement (FTA) between the two sides.
EU FTA: Cars may not see sharp cut in customs duty
30-Mar-2013    
In a move that could spell relief for the domestic auto industry, India may not offer the European Union (EU) a sharp customs duty cut to 10-30 per cent for imported premium cars as previously envisaged under the upcoming free trade agreement (FTA).
India-EU FTA may be in jeopardy if April 15 meeting fails
29-Mar-2013     CNBC
The future of the proposed Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between India and EU will now depend on a meeting between commerce minister Anand Sharma and EU trade commissioner Karl De Gucht at Brussels on April 15.
Indian pharma sector fears India-European Union FTA could imperil local industry
27-Mar-2013    
Drugmakers and healthcare activists are worried that the India-European Union Free Trade Agreement (FTA), which is in the works, may contain a provision that could imperil local industry and have urged the government to keep patent infringement issues out of FTAs.
Amul requests for a relook at EU-India FTA
27-Mar-2013     Times of India
India's largest dairy co-operative - Amul - has requested the commerce ministry to relook at the EU-India Free Trade Agreement.
Why India’s FTA with EU is very bad for its people
26-Mar-2013     First Post
Even as India enters the final phase of the negotiations for its controversial Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with European Union (EU), the country hasn’t taken into account the red flags raised by citizens’ groups and development specialists.
NGOs term undue hurry in finalizing EU-India FTA as undemocratic
25-Mar-2013     Pharmabiz
The undue hurry on the ongoing negotiations between the Indian government and the European Commission (EC) to finalise the EU-India free trade agreement (FTA) has come in for sharp criticism from the NGOs working in the health sector. They have termed the government action as undemocratic.