Brussels, 24/03/2011 (Agence Europe) - The European Parliament (EP) has backed extending the EU's generalised system of preferences (GSP) for developing countries from 1 January 2012 to 31 December 2013, while awaiting full revision. After receiving a pledge from European Trade Commissioner Karel De Gucht on information sharing, the plenary session gave up its amendments and adopted the report by Helmut Scholz (GUE/NGL, Germany) by the overwhelming margin of 598 votes to 5, with 16 abstentions. In committee, the EP expressed its displeasure at not being involved as it should be under the Lisbon Treaty. De Gucht gave his assurance that information sharing and the EP's concerns over the GSP decision-making process will be revisited in negotiations on the general (Omnibus) review of the scheme later this year. “The Commission has heard the EP's concerns on the decision-making aspects of GSP loud and clear. We reconfirm our full and active support for the EP to play its role in trade policy as foreseen in the Lisbon Treaty, and are committed to discuss, in a constructive spirit, the Parliament's concerns” in the context framework of the Omnibus proposals, De Gucht said, promising that the Commission would make every effort to facilitate the EP's request to be informed of the work related to essential aspects of GSP and to provide access to all relevant documents. (E.H./transl.rt)