EC hands over GSP+ Report

The European Commission (EC) on Monday, October 19 handed over to the Government its report on Sri Lanka's implementation of 3 of the 27 UN Conventions relevant to its GSP+ benefits that were of concern to the EC, said a press release issued by the Foreign Ministry yesterday.

The note from the Directorate General for Trade of the European Commission forwarding the EC report to the Mission of Sri Lanka in Brussels stated "the Commission will now decide whether to propose a temporary withdrawal of the special incentive arrangement for sustainable development and good governance provided for under Council Regulation (EC) No. 732/2008."

The Note goes on to add "if the Government of Sri Lanka wishes to make any representations on this matter or specifically in relation to the Commission report in annex, it is kindly requested to bring these to the Commission's attention no later than November 6, 2009......."

It would be recalled that the GSP+ "investigation" on Sri Lanka by the EC was launched a year ago, at a time the Government of Sri Lanka (GoSL) was on the verge of ending 30 years of terrorism in Sri Lanka.

The GoSL did not participate in the process of the GSP+ "investigation" and refused a request for "experts" to visit Sri Lanka as a matter of principle, as it was felt inappropriate for Sri Lanka as a sovereign State to participate in such a process and to be unnecessary given the rumours on-going processes both between the GoSL and the UN system, as well as between the GoSL and the EU.

The GoSL will closely study the EC report, the statement added.