EU mum on GSP prospects

26 May 2010 09:40 am - 14 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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By Jamila Najmuddin

The European Union says that it will continue talks with Sri Lanka on the GSP+ trade concessions but refused to speculate if Sri Lanka is likely to continue enjoying the trade benefits till the negotiations are over.

EU Ambassador in Sri Lanka Bernard Savage told Daily Mirror online that the Commission in Brussels was looking into the GSP+ trade benefits for Sri Lanka and had decided to continue the talks with the Sri Lankan government but added that it he could not speculate whether Sri Lanka could regain the trade concessions.

“By commenting on whether the GSP+ could be regained, I would be going ahead of the continuing process. It is not for me, at this stage, to indulge in questions of probability. What I see right now is that there is a common objective to continue the talks. I do not want to speculate anything right now,” Savage said.

External Affairs Minister G.L. Peiris said yesterday that Sri Lanka could still avoid the withdrawal of European Union trade concessions over its human rights record following two rounds of talks with Brussels.

Minister Peiris told Reuters in an interview that a team of Sri Lankan officials had made two trips to Brussels, the second of them at the end of last week, to discuss the trade preference and Sri Lanka's rights record.

No date for further talks had been set, but Colombo would be in touch with the EU, he said. "If they feel that any further clarification is necessary...we would certainly not be averse to sending a team ... to continue talks."

Minister Peiris said EU officials had praised Sri Lanka for relaxing wartime emergency rules earlier this month and for resettling in their home areas most of the almost 300,000 people who fled as the government moved in to crush the Tamil Tiger fighters. (Daily Mirror online)

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Comments - 14

Wednesday, 26 May 2010 09:56 AM

Another failed mission!

Wednesday, 26 May 2010 10:07 AM

Recently I've heard that Lithuania is trying to recruit SL garment girls to work there. They're trying to start the textile industry there, which will be easier for Western Europe. So, if they cancel GSP+ it won't be a big problem to them, cos they can buy the same quality products from Lithuania.

Wednesday, 26 May 2010 10:13 AM

The EU has been gathering information from many sources in Sri Lanka in order to arrive at their own conclusion to determine if we are entitled / deserve GSP. No amount of delegations and negotiations can cover for what is actually happening in the country. It is difficult to stay positive about the prospect of getting this vital GSP concession for the country as it stands. I hope we get it for the sake of those who are really struggling to make ends meet.

Wednesday, 26 May 2010 10:15 AM

I do not know why we are still talking to EU for the GSP+ when we are making a great recovery as per Central Bank reports. I say we tell EU to leave us alone as we are no more under the QUEEN we can also tell the UN we fought our own war without their help so we don't want to be in the so called Global Village. We are Sri Lankans, Let us be like are friends CHINA & IRAN who does not want to be a part of the crazy white man's worl. MR will feed us He know all....

Wednesday, 26 May 2010 10:23 AM

According to our HE , we do not need GSP+ at least we should have saved some money if we did not send this team of delegates to Brussels.

In recession time worldwide its a acceptable practice to avoid traveling and use the comm media including video conferences ! this is just a thought ... how we can privatize the gov spending ...

Wednesday, 26 May 2010 10:26 AM

Fair Enough!

Wednesday, 26 May 2010 10:42 AM

Which well did you hop out of? There is no queen for the EU!

Wednesday, 26 May 2010 10:46 AM

I think the delegation travelling cost is marginal considering the chances of getting the GSP + looks very positive .Definitely if the EU ambassador sounds positive i think there is definitely a window of hope and we should not give up and attend in full to wrest it back .Any way if it means laying down our soveriegn rights then we should shut up and close doors.

Wednesday, 26 May 2010 11:52 AM

The human rights concerns are still not addressed by the GOSL. This has to be addressed before sending delegations to EU and USA. Any talk by the the present GOSL regime will bot be trusted by the west.

Wednesday, 26 May 2010 01:30 PM

Why doesn't the Governer Central Bank make statemet on this issue.
He had on earlier occasions stated that the SG needs no special privilages from the international organisations and they could well do with out these subsidies!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Wednesday, 26 May 2010 03:53 PM

Professor recently gave the impression that things were very positive on the front.

Wednesday, 26 May 2010 07:50 PM

SL government mum on HR prospects.

Thursday, 27 May 2010 04:52 PM

Why do you need GSP+. Stop building statues of Buddha at every street junction in N & E where there are no Buddhists. Use that money to compensate for the loss of GSP+ to cushion the blow to the garment industry

Friday, 28 May 2010 08:48 AM

what is laying our sovereign right? Asking for good governance, respecting the freedom of speech, EU is not asking to move mountains, they are only asking to observe democracy, which gives right for freedom for all irrespective of majority or minority. That's it. Simple.

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EU mum on GSP prospects

Comments - 14

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