Various unions oppose EU-India FTA talks

New Delhi, Sept 29 (UNI) Civil society groups from across the country have demanded a complete halt of the ongoing EU-India FTA negotiations at Marseilles in France.

In a memorandum submitted to key political leaders, including Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, civil society groups claimed that since the FTA talks began in June 2007, the Parliament, state legislatures and key constituencies such as trade unions and agriculture groups have been kept in the dark.

The memorandum issued by a coalition of trade unions, people's movements and civil society organizations under the banner of 'Roundtable on RTAs and FTAs' was released at a Strategy Meeting on the EU India Free Trade Agreement (FTA) held on September 21 here, according to a release.

The group expressed its 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, it added.

UNI AN AB KN2030