On Tuesday 17 June, European Parliament and EU Council negotiators relaunched discussions on the revision of the ‘Generalised Scheme of Preferences’ (‘GSP’), for which talks had been stalled since 2023 (see EUROPE 13371/5, 13211/31). The GSP removes tariffs on exports to the EU from developing and least developed countries.
If an agreement has not been reached by 17 June, the co-legislators hope to obtain one as early as next week, during a potential session of inter-institutional negotiations (‘trilogue’). The date of Wednesday 25 June has been suggested but not confirmed.
Progress has been made in recent days thanks to MEPS taking a more flexible position on the issue of readmitting third-country nationals illegally present on European soil. Until now, the European Parliament has refused to make GSP aid conditional on the readmission of migrants. But Parliament negotiators are inclined to take a step towards the EU Council and accept this point, according to two sources familiar with the discussions.
The only issue now is that of safeguards for European farmers, who are affected by imports from GSP beneficiary countries. MEPs are particularly concerned about the fate of EU rice producers and are calling for stronger guarantees.
Even within the EU Council, some countries, such as Italy and Spain, would also like a more automatic, and therefore more reactive, safeguard on rice imports. However, some traditionally liberal Member States are quite opposed to the principle. (Original version in French by Léa Marchal)