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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


India, EU resume free trade talks after 9-year lull
India and the European Union (EU) have resumed free talks for free trade agreement (FTA) after a nine years lull, the Ministry of Commerce and Industry said.
Free Trade Agreement: India, EU to resume FTA talks from June 27
After a gap of about nine years, India and the EU will likely resume the much-awaited negotiations for a proposed free trade agreement (FTA) from June 27, as both the sides eye a deal by next fiscal.
How tension with Russia & China is pushing Europe to do more business with India
The European Union (EU) is now looking to do more business with India by way of greater investments in Europe as tension with Russia over the Ukraine war and geopolitical concerns with China pose massive challenges to the bloc and the world at large.
What is India-EU Trade and Technology Council, and how it will help ongoing FTA negotiations
Council will focus on areas like 5G and AI, seek to deepen cooperation in trade and security. Experts say it’ll ’smoothen’ overall FTA negotiations between India and EU.
India, EU to hold talks on FTA in June, set 2023-2024 target
India and the European Union are set to hold an initial round of negotiations on a Free Trade Agreement in June with the aim of concluding an FTA by late 2023 or early 2024, EU Ambassador to India said.
EU, India agree to set up trade and technology council
The push is part of a broader EU plan to accelerate trade talks with India, according to a person familiar with the talks.
European Commission President to visit India next week
President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen’s two-day visit starting on April 24 will see discussions around key issues including the India-EU Free Trade Agreement (FTA).
EU wakes up, moves on FTA with India
India’s successful free-trade agreements with the UAE and Australia have encouraged the country and the EU to plan three rounds of talks, all within this year to conceptualise a basic frameworks under which the partners will negotiate a comprehensive deal to raise bilateral trade.
Free trade agreement: India, EU to resume trade talks soon
India and the EU are set to soon expedite formal negotiations for a free trade agreement (FTA), with commerce secretary BVR Subrahmanyam visiting Brussels this week to set the stage for the talks.
India, EU plan talks on FTA
The preliminary negotiations are expected to prepare the ground for ironing out differences and even attempt to crack an early harvest deal before 2024 polls in India.