India, EU to resume FTA dialogue on April 12: Diplomat

India and the European Union will meet on Thursday in Brussels to take forward discussions on the Free Trade Agreement between the two regions, a top diplomat said today.

"The goods and services trade with India exceeded 100 billion Euro last year. The current trade deficit is very balanced between India and the EU," EU Ambassador to India Tomasz Kozlowski told reporters here.

Identifying India as a "natural partner", he said the country will remain one of the main trade destinations for the EU.

On the Free Trade Agreement (FTA), Kozlowski said, "We are in the process of formalising the FTA. This is a complex issue, but we are approaching with an open mind. On April 12, another meeting will take place in Brussels between the FTA chief negotiators."
Regarding the issue of immigration, he said migration is a big challenge globally, especially since 2005. "We had challenge in handling it, but it is now under control. We are not accepting any new migration for any economic reason and doors are closed for that."