India, EU fail to decide date to relaunch negotiations on proposed bilateral FTA

India and European Union on Friday failed to decide a date to relaunch negotiations on the proposed bilateral Free Trade Agreement (FTA).

A Joint Statement during 14th India-EU Summit held on Friday in the national capital only said the leaders of both the sides have “… noted the ongoing efforts ... to re-engage actively towards timely re-launching negotiations for a comprehensive and mutually beneficial India-EU BTIA.”

The two sides met during the 14^th summit between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the European Council President Donald Franciszek Tusk and European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker.

India and the EU have been strategic partners since 2004. The 13th India-EU Summit was held in Brussels on March 30 last year during Modi's visit.

India and the EU reiterated the importance of reconciling economic growth and environment protection and highlighted the importance of moving towards a more circular economic model that reduces primary resource consumption, a joint statement said.

“Leaders also agreed to further intensify cooperation on addressing environmental challenges, such as water management and air pollution, acknowledged the progress in implementing the India-EU Water Partnership, including an agreed action programme,” it said.