(a) whether obtaining greater access to the market for services in the European Union is key for the progress of the Board based Trade and Investment Agreement (BTIA) between the European Union and India;
(b) if so, the steps taken by the Government in this regard;
(c) whether the Government has made progress in the trade deal during the 13th EU-India summit in Brussels; and
(d) if so, the details thereof?
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY (INDEPENDENT CHARGE)
(SMT. NIRMALA SITHARAMAN)
a) Yes Madam.
b) Sixteen rounds of negotiations have been held so far for India-European Union Broad-based Bilateral Trade and Investment Agreement (India-EU BTIA). Recently two rounds of stocktaking meetings have also been held on 18th January, 2016 (in New Delhi) and 22nd February, 2016 (in Brussels).
c) & d) During the 13th India-EU Summit held in Brussels on 30th March, 2016, where India was led by the Prime Minister himself, the fact that both sides had re-engaged in discussions with a view to considering how to further the India-EU BTIA negotiations was welcomed.
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