The draft report by Heidi Hautala (Greens/EFA, Finland) on the revision of the Generalised Scheme of Preferences (GSP) was welcomed by the European Parliament’s Committee on International Trade on Tuesday 25 January. The GSP is a facility granted to developing countries to help them export to the EU and comprises three schemes: GSP, GSP+, and ‘Everything But Arms’.
Most political groups want to go even further than the proposal made by the European Commission in September (see EUROPE 12796/1). The European Commission had proposed to tighten the conditions for access to the GSP+. The rapporteur, Ms Hautala, also wants to add international conventions and improve the implementation of the system.
She proposes that both standard GSP and GSP+ beneficiaries submit an action plan for the implementation of the UN guidelines on businesses and human rights.
The European Commission had already determined that the beneficiaries of the GSP+ scheme would ratify 33 international conventions, instead of the previous 27.
To go further, the rapporteur also suggests adding additional preferences for products considered sustainable. On this point, the European Commission has expressed doubts about compatibility with World Trade Organization (WTO) rules. For Heidi Hautala, however, it is possible to rely on an international certification for these products, which can justify the preferential treatment.
Implementation of the system
The rapporteur’s draft opinion introduces more detail into the process of monitoring GSP+ beneficiary countries. The action plan that they will have to provide in order to apply for the scheme will have to contain a clear timetable of the measures to be adopted to implement the various international conventions as well as details of the structures responsible for each measure.
Ms Hautala also considers that an advisory body should be set up to assist the European Commission in evaluating these action plans and monitoring the implementation of the measures.
With regard to the withdrawal of preferences in case of non-compliance, she proposes to promote a clearer and more transparent procedure for all.
“Withdrawal so far has been largely a one-way process, and it is difficult to go back. A positive engagement opportunity that can stop the process is needed”, she explained, adding that withdrawal should remain an instrument of last resort.
Link to migration
Heidi Hautala suggested removing the link to country cooperation on readmissions from the text. “The Commission’s conditions on readmissions offer little clarity on how this would support the development of recipient countries. The legal basis for offering readmission conditions in exchange for tariff preferences seems rather weak to me”, she said.
The EPP, however, felt that this should be reflected in the report.
MEPs have until 1 February to table amendments.
See the draft report: https://bit.ly/35s137l (Original version in French by Léa Marchal)