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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

“Don't trade away our lives”
10-Feb-2012     The Hindu
“Whether we get to live or die should not be up to trade negotiators. We're all here today with one clear message to India and the EU: ‘Don't trade away our lives',” said Mundrika Gahlot of the Delhi Network of Positive People.
India, EU decide to step up trade deal talks, sign research pact
10-Feb-2012     IANS
India and the 27-nation European Union Friday signed two key pacts, including a joint declaration on research and innovation, and agreed to step up negotiations for a broad-based trade and investment pact which continues to be mired in "complex issues."
Activists seek human impact assessment of proposed EU-India trade pact
10-Feb-2012     Hindu Businessline
As India and the European Union met for a summit in New Delhi on Friday, thousands of food, retail, and health activists took to the streets in the Capital to protest against the proposed Free Trade Agreement (FTA).
Why the secrecy? India’s FTA with EU
10-Feb-2012    
Sale of products that compete with EU’s GI-protected ones will be affected. Indian dairy sector has reasons to worry.
No exotic cheese names for Amul if India accepts EU demand
9-Feb-2012     Business Standard
Amul, India’s best-known milk products maker, may have to soon erase words such as Gouda and Emmental from its cheese labels
For a fair, free trade pact with Europe
9-Feb-2012    
Several difficult issues need to be resolved if India is not to be short-changed in the Bilateral Trade and Investment Agreement with the EU.
Safeguard Indian interests in India-EU talks: CPI-M asks govt
8-Feb-2012     PTI
The Communist Party of India (Marxist) on Wednesday asked the government not to conclude any "binding" Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with the European Union till all issues were discussed with representatives of the sectors which could be adversely affected.
Anti-FTA group holds protest in KL against EU-India trade talks
8-Feb-2012     The Star
Some 50 Anti-FTA Coalition members staged a protest at the European Commission's office in Kuala Lumpur Wednesday, urging it to stop promoting what they allege are dangerous trade policies that would threaten the lives of millions across the developing world.
Positive networks and patient groups delivered Coffins to European Commission’s Office at New Delhi today
8-Feb-2012     Don't Trade Our Lives Away
Ahead of India-EU Summit, DNP+ members delivered coffins to European Commission’s office today with a demand to refuse the provisions from the draft text of India-EU FTA that will impact the access to medicines.
Act Up-Paris confront Karel De Gucht on ACTA and EU-India FTA
7-Feb-2012     ACT-UP Paris
Supporting the ongoing Global Week of Action on the EU-India FTA, Pauline Londeix of Act Up-Paris today confronted the European Commission for Trade, Karel de Gucht at a “Civil Society dialogue on Trade, Growth and development” at the European Commission. De Gucht reportedly leaves for India tomorrow for the EU-India Summit on 10th February 2012 where the E.C. is putting pressure on the Indian government to announce political trade-offs in the EU-India FTA.