What changed between the draft committee report and the plenary report

Article 15 – paragraph 5: 5. The Commission shall provide the GSP+ beneficiary country concerned with every opportunity to cooperate and engage with a view to addressing the violations of its binding undertakings as referred to in paragraph 3 during the period referred to in paragraph 4, point (b).

Change 31

Changed:Article 15 – paragraph 6: 6. The Commission shall seek all information it considers necessary including, inter alia, the conclusions and recommendations of the relevant monitoring bodies and information provided by the European Parliament and the Council, as well as by civil societysociety, business organisations and socialtrade partners.unions. In drawing its conclusions, the Commission shall assess all relevant information.

Change 32

Changed:Article 15 – paragraph 7 – point a:7: (a) to terminate the temporary withdrawal procedure, either because the grounds for the reasonable doubt are not confirmed in the assessment referred to in paragraph 6, or because the GSP+ beneficiary country has engaged and is committed to address the violations of its binding undertakings as referred to in paragraph 3;

Article 15 – paragraph 8: 8. Where the Commission considers, based on the elements referred to in paragraphs 5 and 6, that a temporary withdrawal is not justified, it shall adopt an implementing act to terminate the temporary withdrawal procedure in accordance with the advisory procedure referred to in Article 39(2). That implementing act shall be based inter alia on evidence received.

Change 33

Changed:Article 15 – paragraph 9: 9. Where the Commission considers, based on the outcome of the cooperation and engagement and the findings referred to in paragraphs 5 and 6, and after consulting the European Parliament, the Council and the advisorycivil bodysociety and stakeholders referred to in Article 13a,35a, that a temporary withdrawal is justified for the reasons referred to in paragraph 1 of this Article, it is empowered to adopt delegated acts, in accordance with Article 36, to amend Annex I and Annex II in order to temporarily withdraw the tariff preferences provided under the special incentive arrangement for sustainable development and good governance referred to in Article 1(2), point (b). The Commission shall publicly state the grounds for withdrawing preferences and shall set benchmarks that the beneficiary country should meet for the preferences to be reinstated. In adopting theThe delegated act adopted by the Commission may, when appropriate and especially when considering a partial withdrawal, considerbe accompanied by an analysis on the socio-economic effect of the temporary withdrawal of tariff preferences in the beneficiary country, includingnotably withits regardimpact toon impactshuman rights, on the most vulnerable parts of the population, and on women’s employment and empowerment, with a view to minimising the negative socio-economic impact on the GSP+ beneficiary country’s populations while maximising the leverage on its government.

Article 15 – paragraph 10: 10. Where the Commission decides on temporary withdrawal, such delegated act shall become applicable one month after its adoption.

Change 34

Changed:Article 15 – paragraph 10 a (new): 10a. During the application of a temporary withdrawal, the Commission shall continue the dialogue with the beneficiary country, including in the framework referred to in Article 18a, aiming at remedying the reasons for the withdrawal referred to in paragraph 3. The Commission shall regularly assess the effects of the withdrawal on remedying the violations, including in the report referred to in Article 14. TheTo that purpose, the Commission shall regularly consult with the advisorysociety bodyand the stakeholders as referred to in Article 13a to that purpose.35a.

Article 17 – paragraph 1: 1. An eligible country shall benefit from the tariff preferences provided under the special arrangement for the least-developed countries referred to in Article 1(2), point (c), if that country is identified by the United Nations as a least-developed country and if the country is compliant with the conditions referred to in Article 19 paragraph 1.

Change 35

Changed:Article 17 – paragraph 1 a (new): 1a. The Commission and, where applicable the EEAS, shall make sure that countries that benefit from the special arrangement referred to in paragraph 1 make continued and sustained progress towards ratifying the conventions listed in Annex VI and towards the adoption of National Action Plans for the implementation of the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, in conformity with the Guidance on National Action Plans of the UN Working Group on Business and Human Rights;VI. / EU development finance programmingIn underimplementing the Neighbourhood, Development and International Cooperation Instrument - Global Europe established byunder Regulation (EU) 2021/9472021/947, priority shall prioritisebe given to support to countries benefitting from the special arrangement referred to in paragraph 1 aiming to make progress towards the ratification of the conventions listed in Annex VI and the adoption of the National Action Plans.VI.

Change 36

Changed:Article 17 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 2: Where an EBA beneficiary country no longer fulfils the economic criteria referred to in paragraph 1 of this Article, the Commission is empowered to adopt delegated acts, in accordance with Article 36, to amend Annex I in order to remove the country from the EBA arrangement following a transitional period of three years as from the date on which the EBA beneficiary country no longer fulfils the economic conditionscriteria referred to in paragraph 1 of this Article.

Change 37

Removed:Chapter 5 – Title: Enhanced engagement and temporary withdrawal provisions common to all arrangements

Added:Article 18 a (new): Article 18a / General review of the status of the country in the framework of the preferential arrangements referred to in Article 1(2) shall be conducted yearly within the framework of a cooperation, partnership or association agreement that the Union has concluded with a beneficiary country. For that purpose, the Commission, and where relevant the European External Action Service, and the beneficiary country shall review the issues pertaining to the conditions referred to in Article 19(1), including in relation to any complaints received by the Commission. The Commission, and where relevant the European External Action Service, and the beneficiary country shall also review the status of the ratification of the conventions listed in Annex VI as referred to in Article 4(1a) and progress made towards ratification of the conventions listed in Annex VI as referred to in Article 17(1a). The Commission and the EEAS shall also cooperate with the beneficiary countries with a view to making progress towards the full implementation of the Three Pillars of the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights.

Removed:Article 18 a new: Article 18a / In the framework of a Cooperation, Partnership or Association Agreement that the Union has concluded with a beneficiary country, a general review of the status of the country in the framework of the preferential arrangements referred to in Article 1(2) shall be conducted yearly. For that purpose, the Commission, and where relevant the European External Action Service, and the beneficiary country shall review the issues pertaining to the conditions referred to in Article 19(1), including in relation to any complaints received by the Commission. The Commission, where relevant the European External Action Service, and the beneficiary country shall also review the status of the ratification of the conventions listed in Annex VI as referred to in Article 4(1a) and progress made towards ratification of the conventions listed in Annex VI as referred to in Article 17(1a).

Added:Chapter V – Title: Enhanced engagement and temporary withdrawal provisions common to all arrangements

Removed:Article 19 – paragraph 1: 1. The preferential arrangements referred to in Article 1(2) may be withdrawn temporarily, in respect of all or of certain products, including certain sectors, originating in a beneficiary country, for any of the following reasons:

Added:Article 19 – paragraph 1: 1. The preferential arrangements referred to in Article 1(2) may be withdrawn temporarily, in respect of all or of certain products, including certain sectors, originating in a beneficiary country, for any of the following reasons: / (aa) failure to abide by the obligation to ratify these conventions, as referred to in Article 4.1 (b); / (c) serious shortcomings in customs controls on the export or transit of drugs (illicit substances or precursors), or serious failure to comply with international conventions on antiterrorism and anto-money laundering; / (d) serious and systematic unfair trading practices including those affecting the supply of raw materials, or as identified in the framework of an investigation concluded under Regulation 2015/1843, which have an adverse effect on the Union industry and which have not been addressed by the beneficiary country. For those unfair trading practices, which are prohibited or actionable under the WTO Agreements, the application of this Article shall be based on a previous determination to that effect by the competent WTO body; / (e) serious and systematic infringement of the objectives adopted by Regional Fishery Organisations or any international arrangements to which the Union is a party concerning the conservation and management of fishery resources, or serious violations of the principles of decent work in fisheries as laid down in ILO Convention No 188 (2007); / The temporary withdrawal of the preferential arrangements referred…

Removed:Article 19 – paragraph 1 – point a: (a) serious and systematic violation of principles laid down in the conventions listed in Annex VI, or failure to abide by the obligation to ratify these conventions, as referred to in Article 4(1) point b;

Added:Article 19 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1 a (new): 1a. For the purpose of applying point (a) of paragraph (1), the Commission shall in particular take into account whether the relevant monitoring bodies, treaty and supervisory mechanisms have signalled potentially serious and systematic violations of the principles of the relevant conventions, based on such indicators as: / - the establishment of commissions of inquiry, fact-finding missions, country special rapporteurs, or other monitoring mechanisms by the UN Human Rights Council or General Assembly or the ILO Governing Body; / - findings by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, UN Special Procedures or other UN independent human rights experts; / - relevant procedures in the framework of the ILO Committee of Application of Standards, such as the introduction of a special paragraph; / - rulings and opinions by international human rights courts; / - reports by prominent local and international human rights groups; / - relevant indicators for the effective implementation of multilateral environmental and good governance conventions.

Removed:Article 19 – paragraph 1 – point c: (c) serious shortcomings in customs controls on the export or transit of drugs (illicit substances or precursors), or serious failure to comply with international conventions on antiterrorism or anti-money laundering;

Added:Article 19 – paragraph 2 a (new): 2a. The Commission shall publish a notice in the Official Journal of the European Union and notify the beneficiary country, the European Parliament and the Council, if the violations of principles of the international conventions listed in Annex VI so require, based on available assessments, comments, decisions, recommendations and the conclusions of the relevant monitoring bodies, or based on substantiated concerns expressed by the European Parliament, the Council, international organisations, and civil society including trade unions, or acting upon a complaint. / Starting from the date of the notification and for the duration of one year, the beneficiary country and the Commission shall enter into an enhanced engagement, whereby the beneficiary country commits to adopt time-bound roadmaps providing for concrete actions and sustainable solutions to the serious violations identified. / In the cases where the violations have reached the stage of serious and systematic violations, the Commission shall immediately initiate the procedure for the temporary withdrawal, as referred to in Article 19.4. / The Commission shall regularly consult with the European Parliament and the Council during the enhanced engagement process and consult with the civil society and stakeholders as referred to in Article 35a. / In implementing the Instrument under Regulation (EU) 2021/947, support shall be provided to beneficiary countries in implementing the roadmaps.

Removed:Article 19 – paragraph 1 – point d: (d) serious and systematic unfair trading practices as established by WTO appeal mechanisms;

Removed:Article 19 – paragraph 1 – point e: (e) serious and systematic infringement of the objectives adopted by Regional Fishery Organisations or any international arrangements to which the Union is a party concerning the conservation and management of fishery resources, or serious violations of the principles of decent work in fisheries as laid down in ILO Convention No 188 (2007);

Removed:Article 19 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1 a (new): For the purpose of applying point (a), the Commission will in particular take into account whether the relevant monitoring bodies, treaty and supervisory mechanisms have signalled potentially serious and systematic violations of the principles of the relevant conventions, based on such indicators as: / - the establishment of commissions of inquiry, fact-finding missions, country special rapporteurs, or other monitoring mechanisms by the UN Human Rights Council or General Assembly; / - findings by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, UN Special Procedures or other UN independent human rights experts; / - relevant procedures in the framework of the ILO Committee of Application of Standards, such as the introduction of a special paragraph; / - rulings and opinions by international human rights courts; / - reports by prominent local and international human rights groups; / - relevant indicators for the effective implementation of Multilateral Environmental and good governance Conventions.

Removed:Article 19 – paragraph 2 a (new): 2a. The Commission shall notify the beneficiary country when in particular the seriousness of the violations of principles of the international conventions listed in Annex VI so requires, based on available assessments, comments, decisions, recommendations and the conclusions of the relevant monitoring bodies, or based on substantiated concerns expressed by the European Parliament, the Council, international organisations, and civil society including trade unions, or acting upon a complaint. / Starting from the date of the notification and for the duration of one year, the beneficiary country and the Commission shall enter into an enhanced engagement, whereby the beneficiary country commits to adopt time-bound roadmaps providing for concrete actions and sustainable solutions to the serious violations identified. EU development finance programming under the Neighbourhood, Development and International Cooperation Instrument - Global Europe established by Regulation (EU) 2021/947 of the European Parliament and of the Council shall support beneficiary countries in implementing the roadmaps. / The Commission shall regularly consult with the European Parliament and the Council during the enhanced engagement process. The Commission shall also consult with the advisory body referred to in Article 13a.

Article 19 – paragraph 2 b (new): 2b. If considered necessary, the enhanced engagement may be prolonged by another year. The Commission shall publish a list of countries with which enhanced engagement has been prolonged beyond one year and shall regularly update the list as necessary. The roadmaps referred to in paragraph 2a shall be made public.

Change 38

Changed:Article 19 – paragraph 3: 3. Where the Commission,Commission acting upon a complaintcomplaint, on the basis of information submitted by the European Parliament, notably in the framework of the dialogue foreseen in Article 35b, or by the Council, or on its own initiativeinitiative, considers that there are sufficient grounds justifying temporary withdrawal of the tariff preferences provided under any preferential arrangement referred to in Article 1(2) because the beneficiary country has failed to deliver on its roadmap referred to Article 19(2a), or more generally on the enhanced engagement, or on the basis of other reasons referred to in paragraph 1 of this ArticleArticle, it shall adopt an implementing act to initiate the procedure for temporary withdrawal in accordance with the advisory procedure referred to in Article 39(2). The Commission shall inform the European Parliament and the Council of the adoption of that implementing act.act and of the follow-up it has given to the information submitted by the European Parliament or the Council.

Change 39

Changed:Article 19 – paragraph 3 a (new): 3a. The Commission shall inform the European Parliament, the Council and the advisorycivil bodysociety and stakeholders as referred to in Article 13a35a about the complaints received. The Commissionreceived, shalland inform the complainant, the European Parliament,them, theas Councilwell andas the advisory body referred to in Article 13acomplainant, where it considers that the complaint does not provide sufficient evidence in relation to the indicators referred to in this article.Article.

Change 40

Changed:Article 19 – paragraph 44: –4. pointThe b:Commission shall publish a notice in the Official Journal of the European Union announcing the initiation of a temporary withdrawal procedure, and shall notify the beneficiary country concerned thereof, and inform the European Parliament and the Council. The notice shall: / (b) state that the Commission will continue to pursue dialogue in the framework of the enhanced engagement and monitor and evaluate the situation in the beneficiary country concerned during the monitoring and evaluation period referred to in Paragraph 5.

Change 41

Changed:Article 19 – paragraph 5: 5. The Commission shall providecarry theout beneficiarymonitoring countryand concernedevaluation withduring everya opportunityperiod of six months from the publication of the notice referred to startin engagingparagraph and4. cooperateThe anyCommission timeshall duringprovide the monitoringbeneficiary andcountry evaluationconcerned periodwith ofevery sixopportunity monthsto fromstart theengaging dateand ofcooperate publicationany oftime theduring notice.that period.

Change 42

Changed:Article 19 – paragraph 6: 6. The Commission shall seek all information it considers necessary, inter alia, the available assessments, comments, decisions, recommendations and conclusions of the relevant monitoring bodies, and relevant information from other sources, including from civil society organisations, business organisations and socialtrade partnersunions, and evidence submitted through a complaint or provided by third parties, as appropriate, as well as information provided by the European Parliament and the Council. / In drawing its conclusions, the Commission shall assess all relevant information and consider the progress made by the beneficiary country in delivering on its roadmap in the framework of the enhanced engagement referred to in paragraphArticle 2a.19.2a.

Change 43

Changed:Article 19 – paragraph 7: 7. Within one month from the expiry of the period referred to in paragraph 5, and after consultation ofconsulting the advisorycivil bodysociety and stakeholders as referred to in Article 13a,35a, the Commission shall submit a report on its findings and conclusions to the beneficiary country concerned. The Commission shall present the report to the European Parliament and to the Council. The beneficiary country has the right to submit its comments on the report. The period for comments shall not exceed one month.

Article 19 – paragraph 8 – introductory part: 8. Within two months from the expiry of the period referred to in paragraph 4, point (b), the Commission shall decide:

Article 19 – paragraph 9: 9. Where the Commission considers, based on the elements referred to in paragraph 6 and 7, that a temporary withdrawal is not justified, it shall adopt an implementing act, in accordance with the advisory procedure referred to in Article 39(2), on the termination of the temporary withdrawal procedure.

Change 44

Changed:Article 19 – paragraph 10: 10. Where the Commission considers, based on the elements referred to in paragraph 6 and 7, that temporary withdrawal for the reasons referred to in paragraph 1 is justified of this Article,Article is justified, it is empowered to adopt delegated acts, in accordance with Article 36, to amend Annex I and Annex II, in order to temporarily withdraw the tariff preferences provided under the preferential arrangements referred to in Article 1(2). The Commission shall publicly state the grounds for withdrawing preferences and set benchmarks that the beneficiary country should meet for the preferences to be reinstated. In adopting theThe delegated act adopted by the Commission may, where appropriate and especially when considering a partial withdrawal, considerbe accompanied by an analysis on the socio-economic effect of the temporary withdrawal of tariff preferences in the beneficiary country, includingnotably withits regardimpacts toon impactshuman rights, on the most vulnerable parts of the population, and on women’s employment and empowerment, with a view to minimising the negative socio-economic impact on the beneficiary country’s populations while maximising the leverage on its government.

Article 19 – paragraph 12: 12. Where the Commission decides on temporary withdrawal, such delegated act shall become applicable one month after its adoption.

Change 45

Changed:Article 19 – paragraph 12 a (new): 12a. During the application of a temporary withdrawal, the Commission shall continue the dialogue with the beneficiary country, including in the framework referred to in Article 18a, aiming at remedying the reasons for the withdrawal referred to in paragraph 1. The Commission shall regularly assess the effects of the withdrawal on remedying the violations, and to that purpose shall consult with the advisorycivil bodysociety and the stakeholders referred to in Article 13a to that purpose.35a.

Change 46

Changed:Article 19 – paragraph 16: 16. Where the Commission considers that there is sufficient evidence to justify temporary withdrawal for the reason set out in paragraph 1, point (a) and the exceptional gravity of the violations calls for a rapid response in view of the specific circumstances in the beneficiary country, it shall initiate the procedure for temporary withdrawal in accordance with paragraphs (3) to (15). However, the period referred to in paragraph 4, point (b)5 is reduced to 21 months, the deadline referred to in paragraph 8 shall beis reduced to a period up to 5 months as3 appropriate.months.

Article 19 – paragraph 17: 17. Where the Commission decides on temporary withdrawal pursuant to paragraph 16 of this Article, such delegated act is adopted in accordance with Article 37 and shall apply 15 days from its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.

Change 47

Added:Article 24 – paragraph 2: 2. An investigation shall be initiated upon request by a Member State, by the European Parliament, by any legal person or any association not having legal personality, acting on behalf of Union producers, or on the Commission's own initiative if it is apparent to the Commission that there is sufficient prima facie evidence, as determined on the basis of factors referred to in Article 23, to justify such initiation. The request to initiate an investigation shall contain evidence that the conditions for imposing the safeguard measure set out in Article 22(1) are met. The request shall be submitted to the Commission. The Commission shall, as far as possible, examine the accuracy and adequacy of the evidence provided in the request, to determine whether there is sufficient prima facie evidence to justify the initiation of an investigation.

Added:Article 24 – paragraph 4: 4. An investigation, including the procedural steps referred to in Articles 25, 26 and 27, shall be concluded within 9 months from its initiation.

Added:Article 24 – paragraph 4 a (new): 4a. The Commission shall adopt public guidelines providing all the relevant information to support Union producers in requesting an initiation of a safeguard investigation, including with regard to the kind of information that is to be provided with a view to determining the existence of serious difficulties to Union producers, or a threat thereof, as referred to Article 22 paragraph 1 and Article 23.

Added:Article 24 – paragraph 4 b (new): 4b. The Commission shall make available standard questionnaires and forms in all EU official languages that Union producers may submit to the Commission in order to provide evidence that serious difficulties or threat thereof exist.

Added:Article 24 – paragraph 4 c (new): 4c. With a view to accessing the relevant information and documents in a less costly and more time-saving manner the SME Trade Defence Helpdesk established under Regulation (EU) 2016/1036 shall be made available for safeguard investigations under this Regulation.

Added:Article 26: Where the facts as finally established show that the conditions set out in Article 22(1) are met, the Commission shall adopt an implementing act to reintroduce the Common Customs Tariff duties in accordance with the advisory procedure referred to in Article 39(2). That implementing act shall enter into force within one month from the date of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.

Added:Article 27: Where the facts as finally established show that the conditions set out in Article 22(1) are not met, the Commission shall adopt an implementing act terminating the investigation in accordance with the advisory procedure referred to in Article 39(2). That implementing act shall be published in the Official Journal of the European Union. If no implementing act is published within the period referred to in Article 24(4), the investigation shall be deemed terminated and any implementing acts adopted pursuant to Article 25 shall automatically expire. Any Common Customs Tariff duties collected as a result of those implementing acts shall be refunded.

Added:Article 28: Common Customs Tariff duties shall be wholly or partially reintroduced for as long as necessary to counteract the deterioration in the economic or financial situation of Union producers, or for as long as the threat of such deterioration persists. The period of reintroduction shall not exceed four years, unless it is extended in duly justified circumstances. / Whenever there is sufficient prima facie evidence that the lifting of the general safeguard measures would likely result in a continuation or recurrence of serious difficulties for EU producers, the Commission shall consider such a review justified for the purpose of further extending the measures.

Added:Article 29 – paragraph 1 – introductory part: 1. Without prejudice to Section I of this Chapter, on 1 January of each year, the Commission, on its own initiative and in accordance with the advisory procedure referred to in Article 39(2), shall adopt an implementing act in order to remove the tariff preferences referred to in Articles7, 12 and 18 with respect to the products falling under Combined Nomenclature codes 100610, 100620, 100630 where imports of such products, originate in a beneficiary country and their total value / (a) exceeds the share referred to in point 3a of Annex IV of the value of Union imports of the same products from all countries and territories listed in Annex I, columns C, during a calendar year / deleted / 2. Paragraph 1 shall not apply to countries with a share for the relevant products referred to in paragraph 1 not exceeding 6 % of total Union imports of the same products.

Added:Article 29 a (new): Article 29a / 1. Without prejudice to Section I of this Chapter, on 1 January of each year, the Commission, on its own initiative and in accordance with the advisory procedure referred to in Article 39(2), shall adopt an implementing act in order to remove the tariff preferences referred to in Articles 7 and 12 with respect to the products from GSP sections S-11a, S-11b or to products falling under Combined Nomenclature code 1701 where imports of such products, originate in a beneficiary country and their total value: / (a) for products under GSP sections S-11a and S-11b exceeds the share referred to in point 3 of Annex IV of the value of Union imports of products in GSP sections S-11a and S-11b from all countries and territories listed in Annex I, columns C, during a calendar year. / (b) for products falling under Combined Nomenclature code 1701 the share referred to in point 3a of Annex IV of the value of Union imports of the same products from all countries and territories listed in Annex I, column C, during a calendar year / 2. Paragraph 1 shall not apply to EBA beneficiary countries, nor shall it apply to countries with a share for the relevant products referred to in paragraph 1 not exceeding 6 % of total Union imports of the same products. / 3. The removal of the tariff preferences shall become applicable two months after the date of publication of the Commission's act to that effect in the Official Journal of the European Union.

Added:Article 30 – paragraph 1: Without prejudice to Section I of this Chapter, where imports of products listed in Annex I to the TFEU, such as rice and sugar, cause, or threaten to cause, serious disturbance to Union markets, in particular to one or more of the outermost regions, or those markets' regulatory mechanisms, the Commission, on its own initiative or at the request of a Member State, after consulting the committee for the relevant agriculture or fisheries common market organisation, shall adopt an implementing act in order to suspend the preferential arrangements in respect of the products concerned in accordance with the advisory procedure referred to in Article 39(2).

Added:Article 32 – paragraph 2: (b) when the evidence provided by Union producers allows the Commission to determine that Imports of products from Chapters 1 to 24 of the Common Customs Tariff as laid down by Regulation (EEC) No 2658/87, under the preferential arrangements granted under this Regulation massively exceed the usual levels of exports from the beneficiary country concerned. The Commission shall clarify which criteria shall be satisfied in order to meet the requirement of “massively exceeding levels”.

Article 33 – paragraph 3 - point d (new): (d) the cumulation brings a positive impact on regional integration.

Article 33 – paragraph 4: 4. When assessing if the request is justified in view of specific trade, development and financing needs of the beneficiary country, in particular on the basis of information provided by that country, the Commission shall take into account the level of dependency of the beneficiary country on integrated production with the third countries concerned by the request, the impact of such dependency on the beneficiary country’s sustainable development, the relevance of sectors with such integrated production for the economy of the beneficiary country and future development perspectives with regard to the products in question, including by taking into account any positive impact on poverty eradication, economic diversification and positive impacts on the local populations, and the overall impacts on regional integration.

Article 33 – paragraph 5: 5. Before the Commission reaches its decision on a request, it shall give the beneficiary country, and other impacted countries notably EBA beneficiaries, the opportunity to present their views.

Change 48

Changed:Article 33 a (new): Article 33a / Pursuant to the EU Aid for Trade Strategy and development funding instruments, it is essentialshall tobe ensureensured that EU development finance programming under the Neighbourhood, Development and International Cooperation Instrument - Global Europe established byunder Regulation (EU) 2021/947 of the European Parliament and of the Council,, including blended finance and guarantees, shall supportsupports the beneficiary countries in fully utilising the preferences granted by this Regulation, promoting their production capacity, economic and export diversification, notably with regards to sustainable products, value addition and inclusive sustainability.

Change 49

Removed:Article 40: By 1 January 2027 and every three years thereafter, the Commission shall submit to the European Parliament and to the Council a report on the effects of the scheme and the progress made against the objectives and the conditionalities of this Regulation covering the most recent three-year period and all of the preferential arrangements referred to in Article 1(2). / By 1 January 2030, the Commission shall submit, to the European Parliament and to the Council, a report on the application of this Regulation. Such a report shall contain in particular the assessment of the appropriateness of the product scope of the Regulation against the objectives of development, poverty eradication and economic diversification and in relation to the broader objectives and implementation of the European Green Deal, in line with the evolution of the Union’s normative environment. The report shall also assess the extension of conditionalities and application thereof to international conventions in the area of climate and environmental protection and good governance. The report shall, where appropriate, be accompanied by a legislative proposal.

Added:Article 35 a (new): Article 35a / The Commission shall hold a regular dialogue with representatives of the civil society and stakeholders in order to review, monitor and assess the implementation of this Regulation, including with regard to the binding undertakings referred to in Article 9, points (d), (e) and (f) and the plans of action submitted in the framework of applications to the GSP+ Scheme. Whenever relevant, the Commission shall adopt public procedures and deadlines for the consultation of civil society and stakeholders.

Removed:Annex 6 – point 1 a (new): 1a. Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (1998)

Added:Article 35 b (new): Article 35b / In order to enhance the dialogue between the institutions of the Union, in particular the European Parliament, the Council and the Commission, and to ensure greater transparency and accountability, the European Parliament may invite the Commission and, where appropriate, the Council, to appear before the competent committee to discuss in particular the list of issues referred to in article 13 (2b), the application of this Regulation and the need for a temporary withdrawal of preferential arrangements under Article 15 and Article 19.

Removed:Annex 6 – point 3 a (new): 3a. First Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (1966)

Added:Article 40: By 1 January 2027 and every three years thereafter, the Commission shall submit to the European Parliament and to the Council a report on the effects of the scheme and the progress made against achieving the objectives and the conditionalities of this Regulation covering the most recent three-year period and all of the preferential arrangements referred to in Article 1(2). The report shall contain the description of the impact and the use of trade preferences, and it shall focus on development and export potential of the most competitive GSP beneficiary countries, in particular those Standard GSP countries that are closer to graduating to Upper-Middle Income status, including with regards to impact on EU industry regarding competitive products. / By 1 January 2029, the Commission shall submit, to the European Parliament and to the Council, a report on the application of this Regulation. Such a report shall in particular: /  assess the appropriateness of the product scope against the objectives of development, poverty eradication and economic diversification and in relation to the broader objectives and implementation of the European Green Deal, in line with the evolution of the Union’s normative environment, as well as the opportunity to introduce arrangements in order to facilitate trade in sustainable products as established in relevant EU legislation with the beneficiary countries. /  assess the implication of the amendments to the ILO’s Declaration on Fundamental princi…