New efforts to reach out to EU MPs

Continuing the dialogue between Sri Lanka and the European Institutions, the Sri Lanka Embassy in Brussels has strengthened a programme to actively engage Members of the European Parliament (MEP) representing the Member States, as well as the respective European Political Groups.

Ambassador Ravinatha Aryasinha held consultations with leading MEPs of the South Asia Delegation in the European Parliament, as well as MEPs who have shown interest in developments in Sri Lanka in recent times.

Responding to concerns relating to the forthcoming GSP+ review, Ambassador Aryasinha observed that it is unfortunate that the different requirements in the GSP+ regulation are not given equal focus.

Drawing attention to the numerous steps taken by the government to achieve high standards with regard to human rights, environment, labour and good governance - the stipulated criteria for the receipt of GSP+ advantages, he said this made Sri Lanka a credible trading partner for the EU.

Additionally, Prof. Rajiva Wijesinha, Secretary General/Secretariat for Coordinating the Peace Process (SCOPP) visiting Brussels last week to participate in a dialogue between Asian and European Liberals, provided briefings also to the Conservative and Socialist groups in the European Parliament on current developments in Sri Lanka.

In his interactions with MEPs Ambassador Aryasinha, while appreciating the action taken by the EU to proscribe the LTTE as a terrorist organization in 2006, observed that it was imperative that all EU Member States also proceeded to take action against the front organizations of the group which acted in the guise of economic, humanitarian, religious and social bodies and were engaged in fund raising for terrorist purposes in many parts of Europe.