Ref. Ares(2017)1517815 - 21/03/2017
Ref. Ares(2017)4070668 - 17/08/2017
From:
Art. 4.1(b)
on behalf of Arnaldo ABRUZZINI
<xxxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxx.xx>
Sent:
Tuesday 21 March 2017 10:32
To:
CAB MALMSTROM CONTACT
Cc:
ASENIUS Maria (CAB-MALMSTROM)
Subject:
Termination of EU BITs by India
Attachments:
Commissioner Malmström India BITs.pdf
Dear Commissioner Malmström,
Please, find enclosed a letter from EUROCHAMBRES regarding the current trade agreements
situation with India.
Kind regards,
Arnaldo Abruzzini
Arnaldo ABRUZZINI
CEO
EUROCHAMBRES
Art. 4.1(b)
Av. des Arts 19 A/D I B-1000 Brussels I www.eurochambres.eu
Ref. Ares(2017)1517815 - 21/03/2017
CHIE F E XE CU T IVE O FF IC E R
Ms. Cecilia Malmstroem
Trade Commissioner
European Commission
Rue de la Loi 200
B-1049 Brussels
Brussels, 21. March 2016
Subject: Termination of EU BITs by India
Dear Commissioner,
As you are probably aware, EUROCHAMBRES is supportive of the negotiation process with India,
as well as EU efforts to open new channels to advance bilateral trade and investment so as to
strengthen the European trade agenda.
However, we are very concerned by the decision in 2016 of the Indian Government to cancel all
European Bilateral Investment Treaties (BITs). We thus urge you to intervene in order to prevent
their imminent discontinuation, as it could severely damage both European investment and trade
flows, given that current legal protection in India is insufficient for foreign investors.
For this reason, we would like to see both sides enhancing their engagement in an EU-India
Investment Treaty. This can accommodate concerns on both sides, whilst extending the existing
BITs until such an agreement is reached, so as to avoid a protection gap for the substantial EU
investments in India. This issue should be resolved before the negotiations on a free trade
agreement can fully resume.
We are convinced that a bilateral FTA is the best tool to achieve significant market openings and
improve the overall trade and investment conditions for EU companies in India and Indian
companies in Europe. However, since the Indian offer still falls far short of the required level of
ambition, we invite the European Commission to clearly indicate that for European business, there
needs to be a clear engagement from India on outstanding issues so as to achieve an effective
and balanced outcome.
We remain at your full disposal for any questions you may have.
Yours sincerely,
Arnaldo Abruzzini
ASSOCIATION OF EUROPEAN CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY
ASSOCIATION DES CHAMBRES DE COMMERCE ET D’INDUSTRIE EUROPEENNES
Chamber House • Avenue des Arts 19 A/D • B - 1000 Brussels / Bruxelles • Belgium / Belgique
Tel. +32 2 282 08 50 • Fax +32 2 230 00 38 • xxxxxxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxx.xx • www.eurochambres.eu
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