India trade unions, people’s movement and civil society groups call for immediate halt to EU-India FTA negotiations
Forum on FTAs (New Delhi) | 29 September 2008
INDIAN TRADE UNIONS, PEOPLE’S MOVEMENT AND CIVIL SOCIETY GROUPS CALL FOR AN IMMEDIATE HALT TO EU-INDIA FTA NEGOTIATIONS
New Delhi: As two day (29-30 September, 2008) EU-India summit begins at Marseilles in France, civil society groups from across India demand a complete halt of the ongoing EU-India FTA negotiations. In a statement submitted to key political leaders in India, including Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, they claim that since the FTA talks began in June 2007, the Indian Parliament, state legislatures and key constituencies such as trade unions and agriculture groups have been kept in the dark. The statement was issued at a Strategy Meeting on the EU India Free Trade Agreement (FTA) held on 21 September 2008 in New Delhi. The meeting was organised by a coalition of Trade unions, people’s movements and civil society organizations under the banner of ‘Round table on RTAs and FTAs’.
Representatives of trade unions, people’s movements and civil society organisations expressed their opposition to the lack of transparency, public debate and democratic process of the ongoing negotiations of the European Union - India Free Trade Agreement (EU-India FTA). Participants also expressed their deep concern over socio-economic and environmental impacts of this far reaching trade and investment treaty. .
The call “Immediately Halt EU-India FTA Negotiations” further states that, “since the launch of the EU’s corporate driven Global Europe strategy and the subsequent commencement of the negotiations in June 2007, five rounds of formal talks have occurred without any public access to the Indian government position, commissioned studies and negotiating texts. Even the Indian Parliament, state governments and legislatures have been kept in the dark.”
Participants pointed to the fact that the consultation process of Indian Commerce ministry was limited to large corporate bodies while ignoring the concerns of those who are likely to be adversely affected by this legally binding treaty.
The statement made following specific demands of the GoI:
– All existing negotiating positions, draft proposals and government commissioned studies are made public
– All current proposals are debated and discussed in parliament and public fora
– The federal process of consultation with the state governments is completed and a consensus is reached
– Consultations are conducted with key constituents such as trade unions, farmers, women, dalit, adivasi and other peoples organizations, small and medium enterprises, cooperatives and hawkers
– A white paper is released and discussed in parliament on the socio-economic and ecological impacts of all aspects of the EU-India FTA, especially addressing social inequality and discrimination.
The statement was endorsed by large number of organizations in India. The statement is attached with this press release.
For further information please contact Smitu Kothari, (09810619983, smitukothari@vsnl.net), J John (09868164009, jjohn@cec-india.org), Benny Kuruvilla (9873921191, bennyk@focusweb.org,) Focus on the Global South and Dharmendra Kumar (9871179084, dkfordignity@yahoo.co.uk), India FDI watch.
Yours Sincerely
G.Manicandan
Centre for Education and Communication (CEC)
On Behalf of Forum on FTAs
Contact:
G.Manicandan
Centre for Education and Communication
173 A Khirki Village
Malviya Nagar, New Delhi - 110017
Tel: 91 - 11-29541841/29542473/29541858
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