On Tuesday 20 December, the Permanent Representatives of the Member States to the EU (Coreper II) approved the negotiating mandate for the regulation reforming the EU’s Generalised Scheme of Preferences (GSP).
The GSP is a facility granted to developing countries to allow them to export to the EU without tariffs.
Contrary to the European Parliament (see EUROPE 12944/25), the EU Council wishes to maintain the Commission proposal to make GSP aid to beneficiary countries conditional on the readmission of their nationals who are illegally present in the EU. This issue was the subject of a debate characterised by particularly strong German opposition. Member States had failed to agree on their position on 30 November (see EUROPE 12074/25).
As for the other area of concern, safeguarding measures, the EU Council has responded by adding some extra safeguards for the European market in the text. It has introduced a stronger mechanism to monitor agricultural imports from GSP beneficiary countries. The data collected may potentially lead to a withdrawal of preferences.
Moreover, the majority of Member States have taken up the Commission’s proposals, including that of extending the list of international agreements to be respected by the beneficiary countries.
Negotiations with the European Parliament will be able to start under the Swedish Presidency of the EU Council, with the aim of reaching an agreement between the co-legislators before the current GSP expires at the end of 2023. (Original version in French by Léa Marchal)