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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

Cars, software, services threaten EU-India trade deal
6-Feb-2012     Reuters
Hopes of India and the European Union striking a free trade deal at a summit this week are fading fast, with differences over duties on cars and market access for software and service companies standing in the way of an accord.
India-EU FTA talks have gone on longer than we thought: Joao Cravinho
1-Feb-2012     Business Standard
Interview with European Union`s ambassador to India
Last-ditch move to push India-EU FTA?
31-Jan-2012     Times of India
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has convened a meeting of external affairs minister S M Krishna and commerce and industry minister Anand Sharma this week ahead of the India-EU Summit on February 10.
India, EU say making good progress on trade pact
29-Jan-2012    
India and the European Union (EU) today said they are making steady progress towards concluding the ambitious bilateral trade opening pact on goods, services and investment.
Europe’s carmakers hit out at India trade deal
29-Jan-2012    
Europe’s carmakers are crying foul over a proposed free-trade agreement between the European Union and India, which they say would restrict access to one of the most important but highly protected markets.
GM joins chorus against FTA duty cut on EU cars
28-Jan-2012     Financial Chronicle
General Motors, Hyundai and Suzuki are against the reduction in import duty on European cars proposed under the India-EU free trade agreement
India-EU FTA will not be inked at Delhi Summit: Envoy
23-Jan-2012     Hindu Business Line
The India-European Union Free Trade Agreement will not be inked during the summit scheduled to be held in New Delhi on February 10.
India-EU free trade agreement not to be ready by summit: Source
22-Jan-2012     Economic Times
Much-delayed India-EU Free Trade Agreement (FTA) is not likely to be completed in the near future, but "some announcement" will be made on February 10 here, when the two sides meet for their annual summit, sources said.
India-EU FTA nearing 'closing stages'
19-Jan-2012     Business Standard
The negotiations on India-EU free trade agreement (FTA) has reached “closing stages”. While consensus has been achieved in some tricky areas such as wine and pharmaceuticals, negotiators are now busy reaching an agreement in agricultural products and automobiles.
India, EU FTA to take more time
16-Jan-2012     All India Radio
The Free Trade Agreement between India and European Union will take more time to materialise. European Union foreign policy Chief, Baroness Catherine Ashton informed this after holding meeting with External Affairs Minister S. M. Krishna in Bangalore today.