EU commends SL for taking steps towards GSP+

The EU says the Council  the purpose of GSP+ is to encourage beneficiary countries to effectively implement the core international conventions on human and labour rights, environmental protection and good governance. It takes positive note of the progress recently achieved and encourages Sri Lanka to undertake all remaining necessary preparatory work”.

“The Council commends the steps Sri Lanka has taken to comply with the regulations of the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission and encourages the Sri Lankan authorities to take the further measures necessary to address the shortcomings established in the context of the EU legislation on Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) fishing, so that the ban on fishery exports to the EU can be lifted as soon as possible”.

Sri Lanka was a prime beneficiary of the Generalized Scheme of Preferences Plus (GSP +)trading option offered to it by the EU. In 2010 however GSP+ was temporarily withdrawn for its fish exports while garments continued to enjoy preferential access to the EU market.  The EU is Sri Lanka’s largest export destination, absorbing 36% of its exports. In 2014, Sri Lankan exports to the EU amounted to Euros 1.3 billion (EU).

Last week an EU technical evaluation team arrived in the county to evaluate and observe local fisheries activities following the ban imposed by the EU on Sri Lankan fish exports.