EU puts conditions for GSP

22 June 2010 03:39 am

The European Union (EU) says it has informed the Government of Sri Lanka of its readiness to propose to the Council of the European Union to maintain GSP plus preferences for Sri Lanka for a limited additional period if some conditions are met and a written commitment is given.

The delegation of EU Sri Lanka and the Maldives said Sri Lanka needs to give a written commitment to undertake a well defined number of human rights related  actions, within a six month time frame beginning in July of this year, and to provide reassurances as to the sustainability of progress registered under the GSP plus dialogue.

“The date of 15 August on which Sri Lanka would cease to benefit from GSP+ will not be extended unconditionally. Only if a written commitment to this effect has been made by the Government of Sri Lanka, by 1 July 2010, would the European Commission put such a proposal to the Council of the European Union, without prejudice to the final decision,” the EU office in Colombo said. (Daily Mirror online)