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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

EU trade talks gather pace
22-Nov-2010     Telegraph
Indian and European Union officials are meeting this week to settle their differences on the free trade agreement (FTA) at the earliest.
Cambodians with HIV/AIDS speak against India-EU free trade pact
22-Nov-2010     Suite 101
As India and European Union negotiators enter into the last round of free trade talks, a Cambodian HIV/AIDS coalition showed concern over pact requirements.
Afrique : L’accord UE-Inde pourrait menacer l’accès à des médicaments VIH essentiels
12-Nov-2010     IRIN
Alors que des responsables indiens et européens se rencontrent à Bruxelles pour mettre au point les détails d’un accord de libre-échange, des activistes de la société civile s’inquiètent que l’accord puisse déboucher sur une protection renforcée de la propriété intellectuelle qui pourrait réduire l’accès aux médicaments génériques indiens bon marché.
MSF protest over EU India trade talks
10-Nov-2010     MSF
MSF staff and supporters rally outside the offices of the European Commission to deliver an open letter of protest against ongoing trade talks between the European Union and India that could damage access to affordable medicines.
In depth: EU deal threatens HIV drug supplies
8-Nov-2010     Al Jazeera
How a trade deal being brokered between Europe and India could cut off the developing world's supply of cheap medicines. Al Jazeera reports.
No clarity on proposed India-EU trade pact yet
28-Oct-2010     Economic Times
The proposed India-EU free trade agreement continues to hang in balance as there is still no clarity on whether the European Parliament will ratify it without inclusion of non-trade issues such as child labour and environment.
Video: Protest action against the EU-India FTA - Brussels - 4 October 2010
14-Oct-2010     Protest action against the EU-India FTA - Brussels - 4 October 2010
Against the backdrop of the 8th ASEM, the Belgian Platform for Action on Health and Solidarity held a protest action against the EU-India FTA during the Asia-Europe People's Forum, in front of the European Commission in Brussels on 4 October 2010.
Protest action against the EU-India FTA - Brussels
14-Oct-2010     Vimeo
Against the backdrop of the 8th ASEM, the Belgian Platform for Action on Health and Solidarity held a protest action against the EU-India FTA during the Asia-Europe People's Forum, in front of the European Commission in Brussels on 4 October 2010.
HIV victims send SOS to EU, India
14-Oct-2010     Himalayan Times
National Association of People Living with HIV and AIDS in Nepal today urged the European Union and the Indian Embassy to withdraw intellectual property provision in the bilateral EU and India Free Trade Agreement that will undermine the production, registration and worldwide availability of essential generic drugs.
ARV AIDS drug is threatened in Indonesia
13-Oct-2010     JOTHI
The Indonesia PLHIV Network voices concerns over the EU-India FTA