Govt. Upbeat After EU GSP Vote
The government was upbeat of the prospects of obtaining the GSP plus from EU after the EU Parliament last voted against a motion not to grant Sri Lanka the trade concession.
Finance Minister Ravi Karunanayake opined that Sri Lanka will gain the privilege of receiving 1.7 Billion US Dollars (approximately 240 Billion LKR) per year once GSP plus is restored.
“The profit will go specifically for the workers and the rest could be allocated to improve and develop the status of the industries and enhance the current status of Sri Lanka economy,” he said.
This will further support and help our exports related to fish, apparel, vegetables and foot ware etc. to build, expand and boost the capacities and opportunities available for us within the international market.
The motion to deny Sri Lanka the GSP plus trade concession was defeated by the EU Parliament last Thursday.
Sri Lanka won the vote in Brussels with 436 members voting against the motion, 119 in favor and 22 abstentions
The Government held urgent talks with several EU Members of Parliament (MEP) ahead of the vote at the EU Parliament on the resolution not to grant Sri Lanka the GSP plus trade concession.
An EU fact finding delegation had recently raised concerns over labour rights in Sri Lanka ahead of a decision being taken on Sri Lanka’s application for GSP plus.
The Fact Finding Mission, which included Members of the European Parliament Anne-Marie Mineur and Lola Sánchez Caldentey, visited Sri Lanka to assess the country’s progress on human and labour rights.
Anne-Marie Mineur said that it is the government´s obligation to effectively guarantee the fundamental rights of workers and their trade unions.
The European Union will decide next month if Sri Lanka is duly entitled, or not, to be granted GSP plus. This status is a component of the EU policy for developing countries which offers trade incentives to those which implement core international conventions on human and labour rights, sustainable development and good governance.
