Lanka rejects EU probe for GSP+
Sri Lanka conforms to all requirements - Foreign
Minister
COLOMBO: Sri Lanka will not be part of a process that comes in the
form of an investigation on the extension of the GSP+ facility, Foreign
Minister Rohitha Bogollagama asserted during his discussions with French
Ambassador Michel Lummaux yesterday.
France is the current Chair of the European Union (EU).
Minister Bogollagama reiterated that an investigation to assess Sri
Lanka’s compliance on the requisites for extension of this facility
would not be accepted and therefore an alternative process should be
found.
Bogollagama pointed out that Sri Lanka has conformed to all the
requirements and nothing had changed since the commencement of according
this facility.
He observed that the noble objective of the GSP+ facility will be
negated judging from the communications Sri Lanka has received from the
EC, which seem to allude to the establishment of punitive measures.
He stated that examination of conformity on the part of Sri Lanka in
the review process should not be judged in the context of extraneous
political issues.
The Minister also informed that Sri Lanka looks forward to continuing
its engagement with the EU at the highest level.
Ambassador Lummaux confirmed that he understood Sri Lanka’s
sentiments against the investigative review process and that France will
follow a purely technical analysis on Sri Lanka’s response to the
criteria.
He pointed out that the GSP+ facility was formulated as an incentive
for sustainable development in developing countries. Therefore France
wishes to have Sri Lanka’s application for its extension treated fairly.
The Ambassador also emphasised that France would not take a position
of using this review process as a punitive measure, as it would only
affect the poorest segment of Sri Lankan society.
He undertook to convey Sri Lanka’s position to his capital. |