On the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on applying a generalised scheme of tariff preferences and repealing Regulation (EU) No 978/2012 of the European Parliament and of the Council
AFET-PA-700536
Committee on Foreign Affairs · Rapporteur: Maria Arena
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The draft opinion proposes amendments to the proposed regulation on the EU's Generalised Scheme of Preferences (GSP) for 2024-2034, focusing on human rights, due diligence, and civil society involvement.¶¶¶ It calls for ex-ante human rights impact assessments, extending positive conditionality to standard GSP, reinforcing the list of core conventions, and making the Single Entry Point accessible to civil society and human rights defenders.¶¶ It also clarifies sectoral withdrawal of preferences and aligns the GSP with EU due diligence regulations.¶¶
Committee position. The Committee on Foreign Affairs proposes amendments to strengthen human rights conditionality, extend positive conditionality to standard GSP, reinforce the list of conventions, and enhance civil society involvement.¶¶¶
Key points
- Before granting a preferential arrangement, the Commission should carry out an ex-ante human rights impact assessment to identify risks of violations.¶
- Standard GSP should be granted only to countries that have signed and ratified all international conventions listed in Annex VI.¶
- Positive conditionality should be extended to standard GSP to incentivise respect for human rights and sustainable development.¶¶
- GSP+ countries must ratify and start implementing core conventions, with a public, time-bound plan of action.¶¶¶
- Beneficiary countries should adhere to due diligence obligations under EU law, including regulations on conflict minerals, timber, and diamonds.¶¶¶
- The Single Entry Point for complaints should be formalised and accessible to civil society organisations and human rights defenders from the EU and beneficiary countries.¶¶
- The Commission should encourage beneficiary countries to adopt measures in line with the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights.¶
- Temporary withdrawal of preferences may apply to all or some economic sectors of a beneficiary country.¶
- The definition of 'serious and systematic violation' includes genocide, crimes against humanity, torture, slavery, and other grave abuses.¶
- The Commission should carry out a human rights impact assessment when reviewing the list of beneficiary countries, and make it public.¶
- Monitoring should consider information from civil society, trade unions, and other stakeholders via the Single Entry Point.¶
Who is affected
- Beneficiary countries under the GSP scheme, especially standard GSP and GSP+ countries, face new conditions on human rights and due diligence.¶¶¶
- Civil society organisations and human rights defenders gain access to the Single Entry Point for complaints.¶¶
- Economic operators in beneficiary countries may be affected by sectoral withdrawal of preferences.¶