EU Seeks Intervention Of PM Narendra Modi To Resume FTA

08 March, Brussels

Keen to expand economic ties with India, the European Union has sought a political push by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to restart the stalled talks for the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) and expressed readiness to adopt flexibility to iron out differences on crucial issues.
Noting that finalising the long-pending pact was a major priority area for it, the 28-member powerful bloc said in Brussels that sticky issues relating to intellectual property rights (IPR), data security for IT services and tariff in the automobile sector can be resolved through talks.
Top European Union officials handling trade issues with India said they are reaching out to Commerce Minister Nirmala Sitharaman to resume the negotiations for the FTA at the earliest. The last round of talks on the FTA was held in May, 2013.