Brussels, 18/12/2003 (Agence Europe) - The EU has decided to extend the Generalised System of Preferences granted to developing countries by one year. The regulation, adopted without debate by the Council, allows this system to be kept in place until end 2005, pending the result of the review to be launched during coming months and the adoption of the future GSP whose entry into force is scheduled for 1 January 2006. We recall that this regulation is the result of a compromise endorsed in April whereby a beneficiary country experiencing economic crisis may be exempted from "graduation" (the disappearance of tariff preferences which, under normal circumstances, would no longer be justified) concerning sectors affected by a fall of at least 3% (in real terms) of Gross Domestic Product. GSP review, to be announced early next year, will cover application of the principle of graduation, including on means likely to encourage alternate and diversified crops in countries which depend on drug production.