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EU to suspend GSP+ concessions to Sri Lanka

December 14 2009 – European Commission

Following the adoption of a Commission proposal on Sri Lanka and GSP+ treatment, Christiane
Hohmann, European Commission Spokesperson for Trade said: “The Commission completed a thorough investigation into the human rights situation in Sri Lanka and in particular whether Sri Lanka is living up to the commitments it made to respect international human rights standards when it became a beneficiary of the European Union’s GSP+ trade incentive scheme which provides for additional trade benefits.
The report came to the conclusion that there are significant shortcomings in this area and that Sri Lanka is in breach of its GSP+ commitments.
After consulting with Member States, the Commission has adopted today a proposal with a view to temporarily suspending these additional trade benefits. EU Member States will have two months in which to decide on it.”

GSP+ relies on beneficiary countries’ continuing to respect the substantive eligibility criteria for the scheme. If this no longer is the case, the relevant EC Regulation foresees that the Commission should undertake an investigation to clarify the situation, and then in the light of its findings, take appropriate action either to confirm the continuation of GSP+ benefits or to propose to EU Member States in the Council that they be temporarily withdrawn.

In light of the findings of the investigation adopted by the Commission on 19 October 2009, the Commission has proposed a temporary withdrawal of some or all of Sri Lanka’s benefits under GSP+ to EU Member States in the Council.

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