» European Parliament final resolution on EU-India FTA
Member of European Parliament (MEP)-Sajjad Karim, Rapporteur, International Trade Committee (INTA), European Parliament (EP), presented a report on the EU-India FTA. On March 5th the INTA had adopted a motion that had incorporated several important amendments presented by Social democrat, United left, and Green MEPs. This had been done after consultation with European civil society groups. This motion was to be accepted by the EP plenary on March 25th, 2009, but an alternative resolution was jointly tabled by the following parties: Liberals-ALDE, Nationalists-UEN, and Christian democrats-PPE/ED) and replaced the motion adopted by the INTA.

The resolution received an unusually large opposition vote (226 against, 326 in favour, 3 abstentions). The unusual opposition was due to social democrats also opposing the resolution, jointly with the United left and the Green MEP's who generally oppose FTA's.

With this resolution, the EP provides non-binding recommendations to the European Commission, which is in charge of the negotiations. The resolution adopted by the EP retains certain progressive elements, for instance, the right to maintain and regulate strong public services; however, it also calls for the incorporation of an investment chapter, a strong IPR regime, corporate social responsibility, government procurement regulations, the liberalisation of the banking and insurance sector and an ambitious chapter on development. (Adopted resolution and MEP presentations).

EU-India: Free Trade Agreement to be signed by the end of 2010 say MEPs
Press release, European Parliament | March 26, 2009
Disappointed with the slow pace of negotiations, MEPs would like to see a Free Trade Agreement signed with India by the end of 2010.