Report from the Commission to the European Parliament and the Council on the Generalised Scheme of Preferences covering the period 2014-2015

Since 1971, the EU Generalised Scheme of Preferences ('GSP') has assisted developing countries in their efforts to reduce poverty, promote good governance and sustainable development. By providing preferential access to the EU market, the GSP helps developing countries generate additional revenue through international trade. Regulation (EU) No 978/2012 of the European Parliament and the Council of 25 October 2012 on applying a scheme of generalised tariff preferences ('the GSP Regulation') is the legal framework for the GSP. The scheme is in line with WTO law, having been introduced under the so-called 'Enabling Clause', which allows an exception to the WTO 'Most-Favoured Nation' principle.

The GSP Regulation requires the Commission to submit a report to the European Parliament and the Council on the functioning of the GSP scheme, once every two years, beginning from 1 January 2016. The report is required to cover the effects of all three preferential arrangements of the GSP over the previous two years. However, the GSP Regulation requires that the report take a particular focus on the GSP+. The report should detail beneficiary countries' ratification, reporting, and effective implementation of the relevant conventions. Thus, this report covers all three elements of the GSP: the Standard GSP scheme, the EBA scheme, with a particular focus on the GSP+ scheme.

EUR-Lex: SWD(2016)8: The EU Special Incentive Arrangement for Sustainable Development and Good Governance (GSP+) covering the period 2014-2015 http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=SWD:2016:008:FIN

ESO: Background information: Trade policy promotes sustainability and human rights http://www.europeansources.info/record/trade-policy-promotes-sustainability-and-human-rights/

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