Update on the reformed EU Generalised System of Preferences (GSP) scheme

European Commission – DG Trade

Charlemagne, 19 May 2016

Disclaimer

This presentation is not a legal document and has been preparedexclusively for information purposes. This should not be used by anyparty as a basis for any decisions with legal implications. The exclusivelegal basis for GSP is Regulation (EU) No 978/2012 of the EuropeanParliament and of the Council.

GSP

• GSP Reform

• GSP+ Monitoring: principles, observations

• Why a GSP Report?

• Duration 10 years (stability, legal certainty)

• "Dynamic" tool: its application follows thechanges in trade flows

• Easier eligibility criteria but…

• Stricter GSP+ Monitoring

GSP Reform: Framework

• Sustainable Development values for goods

• Long-term engagement

• Promote international standards

• Cooperation with international monitoring bodies

• Is the country better-off 10 years later?

GSP+ Monitoring: Underlying principles

• Create trust

• Continuous engagement

• Internal administrative structures

• Ownership by beneficiaries

• Coherence of EU foreign policy actions

GSP+ Monitoring: Observations

• All Governments responsive to monitoring

• Intention-capacity-progress

• Support from local civil society

• Support from monitoring bodies

GSP+ Monitoring: Observations (cont)

GSP

• GSP Reform

• GSP+ Monitoring: principles, observations

• Why a GSP Report?

GSP imports

Standard GSP imports

EBA imports

GSP+ imports

GSP+ monitoring

Panama, Guatemala, Costa Rica, El Salvador

Bolivia,EcuadorParaguayPeru

Cape Verde

Mongolia

Philippines

Pakistan

ArmeniaGeorgia

• 1st Commission Report under current EU GSP law

• Public Document – transparency/accountability/pressure

• Many addressees:the European Parliament and Member Statesbeneficiariescivil societybusinesses

• Multiple drafters / coordinated effort:EU Delegations – in consultation with MS present in the countryEEAS (human rights), DG EMPL (labour rights), DG CLIMA, DG ENVand DG SANCO (Multilateral Environmental Agreements), DG HOME(Good Governance Conventions), DG DEVCO (overall developmentpolicy, addressing capacity constraints).

Why a GSP Report?

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GSP+ monitoring

• Resource demanding exercise. Many contributors

• As an indicator of progress, GSP+ countries have todemonstrate political determination and, over time, anoverall positive trend in meeting their internationalobligations

• Engage with the multilateral institutions (ILO, UN inparticular), including through specific cooperationprojects on capacity-building, dialogues and specialpartnerships.

GSP+ monitoring

• No recommendations for specific actions but softguidelines.

• Recommendations per cluster – no one liners perbeneficiary.

• Balanced analysis: shortcomings but also constraints andprogress.

• No classification of countries into groups of "good" or"bad" performers.

GSP Report: Substance

• No quantitative indicators. Issues are complex: armedgroups, violence, freedom of expression, judicial reform,women or children rights and touch upon social andhistorical perceptions.

• Different countries, different problems

• All beneficiaries made visible efforts

GSP Report: Substance (cont)

• Meetings with local CSOs during GSP+ missions

• Meeting with CSOs in Brussels before missions (EEAS)

• Continuous contact between Delegations and CSOs

• Ad hoc meetings in Brussels

• Submissions from CSO on specific issues to relevantservices or Delegations

• Feedback to GSP+ Report

CSO involvement

GSP scheme

More information on the EU's GSP :

DG TRADE's dedicated website:http://ec.europa.eu/trade/policy/countries-and-

regions/development/generalised-scheme-of-preferences/

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Thank you for your attention !

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