Trade unions and peoples organizations have expressed their concern over the ongoing secret negotiations between India and the European Union (EU) over a free trade agreement.

In a statement released on 21 September 2008 in New Delhi, they have declared “We, belonging to trade unions, people's movements and civil society organisations express our 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).  We are deeply concerned that a free trade framework will have adverse socio-economic and environmental impacts.  As delegations gather for the EU-India Summit in Paris on September 29-30, 2008, we call for a halt of EU-India FTA negotiations.”

The statement further points out 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. The Indian Commerce Ministry's consultations have been limited to large corporate and commercial interests within India and have completely side-stepped those who are likely to be adversely affected by a legally binding treaty.”

The statement demands immediate halt to the ongoing negotiations. It calls for

• All existing negotiating positions, draft proposals and government commissioned studies to be made public
• All current proposals must be debated and discussed in parliament and public fora
• State governments must be consulted and consensus reached
• Consultations must be conducted with trade unions, farmers, women, dalit, adivasi and other peoples organizations, small and medium enterprises, cooperatives and hawkers
• Government must release before public a white paper on the socio-economic and ecological impacts of the EU-India FTA, especially addressing social inequality and discrimination 

The statement has been signed by HMS, AIUTUC, LRS, NTUI, NFFW, NFFPFW, Bharatiya Udhyog Vyapar Mandal, India FDI Watch and other organizations.