Brussels, 26/05/2010 (Agence Europe) - The College of Commissioners gave its approval on Wednesday 26 May, for the roll-over of the current General System of Preferences (GSP) for 2009-2011 during the transition period following the end to the system on 31 December 2011. This will precede the entry into force of the future GSP, whose elaboration was delayed by the entry into force of the Lisbon Treaty. The idea behind this was to, “ ensure continuity for the GSP and leave sufficient legislative space” for the Council and European Parliament to work on the next regulation. It also seeks to avoid any kind of loophole impeding the GSP during the transition period. In order for the Commission's extension proposal to be adopted in a timely manner and not be delayed and to subsequently guarantee that there is no break in the continuity of the GSP in January 2012 or that it has a negative impact on economic operators or GSP beneficiary countries, the services of DG Trade have decided to introduce a proposal that does not include a review of the GSP+ criteria, a variant of the SPG, which offers additional custom tariff reductions to fifteen countries involved in sustainable development and good governance. The updating and potential review of criteria for granting the SPG+ will therefore be part of the comprehensive re-examination of the GSP after 2011, for which the Commission will produce proposals at the beginning of 2011. An impact assessment will accompany these proposals. (E.H.)