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
DEVE-AD-700592
Committee on Development · Rapporteur: AnnaMichelle Asimakopoulou
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The Committee on Development proposes amendments to the proposed regulation on the EU's Generalised Scheme of Preferences (GSP), focusing on strengthening conditionality, transparency, and monitoring.¶ It calls for making Plans of Action public, involving civil society in monitoring, and extending enhanced engagement and withdrawal procedures to all GSP arrangements.¶¶¶ It also proposes shortening the rapid response mechanism timeline and making development finance support ratification and implementation of conventions.¶¶¶
Committee position. The Committee on Development proposes amendments to strengthen conditionality, transparency, and monitoring in the GSP regulation, including extending enhanced engagement and withdrawal provisions to all arrangements.¶¶¶
Key points
- Requires publication of finalised Plans of Action for GSP+ beneficiaries to aid enforcement and transparency.¶¶
- Reduces the rapid response mechanism period from 2 to 1 month and the deadline from 5 to 3 months.¶
- Extends enhanced engagement and temporary withdrawal provisions to all GSP arrangements, not just GSP+.¶¶¶
- Establishes an advisory body of civil society and stakeholders to assist the Commission in monitoring.¶¶
- Allows complaints to the Single Entry Point from third parties, including civil society and human rights defenders.¶¶
- Adds conditions for GSP eligibility: ratification of conventions within five years and no serious violations.¶¶¶
- Requires GSP+ beneficiaries to adopt a National Action Plan on Business and Human Rights.¶
- Mandates that Plans of Action include timeframes, benchmarks, and responsible institutions.¶
- Prioritises EU development finance to support ratification and implementation of conventions in beneficiary countries.¶¶¶
- Requires the Commission to consider socio-economic impacts, including on women's employment, when withdrawing preferences.¶¶
- Introduces a yearly review of beneficiary countries' status under cooperation agreements.¶
Who is affected
- Developing countries benefiting from GSP, especially GSP+ beneficiaries, face new conditions and monitoring.¶¶¶
- Civil society organisations, human rights defenders, and trade unions gain roles in monitoring and complaints.¶¶¶
- The Commission must consult an advisory body and consider socio-economic impacts in withdrawal decisions.¶¶