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opinion parliamentary committee draft, 25 November 2021

On the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on applying a generalised scheme of tariff preferences and repealing Regulation (EU) No 978/2012 of the European Parliament and of the Council

Document DEVE-PA-700592 · (COM(2021)0579 – C90364/2021 – 2021/0297(COD))

Committee on Development · Rapporteur: AnnaMichelle Asimakopoulou

On Parliament’s site PDF Word

AI:In short

This draft opinion proposes amendments to the proposed regulation on the EU's Generalised Scheme of Tariff Preferences (GSP), focusing on Plans of Action for GSP+ beneficiaries and the Rapid Response Mechanism. It requires that Plans of Action include clear roadmaps for implementing conventions and be made publicly available after being agreed. It also shortens timeframes for the Rapid Response Mechanism.

Position. The Committee on Development proposes amendments to the proposed regulation, requiring publication of Plans of Action and shortening timeframes in the Rapid Response Mechanism.

Key points

  1. The GSP is a key EU trade instrument for supporting developing countries in sustainable development, poverty reduction, and human rights.
  2. Extending Positive Conditionality beyond GSP+ would be counterproductive to GSP's development purpose.
  3. Plans of Action for GSP+ beneficiaries should include clear roadmaps for effective implementation of conventions, including necessary legislative changes.
  4. Finalised Plans of Action must be made publicly available after being jointly agreed between the Union and the beneficiary.
  5. Publication of Plans of Action aids enforcement and improves transparency in monitoring and evaluation.
  6. The Rapid Response Mechanism is for exceptionally grave violations requiring urgent reaction; previous withdrawals took up to two years.
  7. The current seven-month timeframe for the Rapid Response Mechanism is insufficiently rapid and should be reduced.
  8. In the Rapid Response Mechanism, the period for the beneficiary to respond is reduced from 2 months to 1 month, and the deadline for the Commission's decision is reduced from 5 months to 3 months.

Who is affected

  • GSP+ beneficiary countries: must submit Plans of Action with clear roadmaps and have them published.
  • The European Commission: faces shorter deadlines in the Rapid Response Mechanism.

Figures and deadlines

  • 2 months reduced to 1 month for the period in Article 19(4)(b).
  • 5 months reduced to 3 months for the deadline in Article 19(8).

Written by AI from the full text · every figure comes from the text · ¶ opens the paragraph · 4 Sept 2026 · Report a problem

Full text

Short justification 27 paragraphs

The GSP is one of the EU’s key trade instruments for supporting developing countries in their efforts to promote sustainable development, reduce poverty and ensure respect for human rights.

The rapporteur points out that GSP is primarily a development tool, and that any proposals to extend the Positive Conditionality, currently applied exclusively to GSP+ beneficiaries as part of the special incentive arrangements, would be counterproductive to this fundamental principle.

Plans of Action

The new GSP provides for GSP+ beneficiaries to submit an accompanying Plan of Action as part of their binding undertakings to maintain ratification of the relevant conventions and to ensure their effective implementation.

The Plans of Action will help to ensure timely and effective implementation of the relevant conventions, a process that can be aided by the input of third-party stakeholders. This will only be possible if the concluded Plans of Action are publicly available.

It is therefore necessary to include a specific requirement for the publication of finalised Plans of Actions. This will aid their enforcement, and can contribute to the wider aims of improving transparency surrounding the monitoring and evaluation procedures associated with the special incentive arrangements provided to GSP+ beneficiaries.

Rapid Response Mechanism

The new GSP provides for a Rapid Response Mechanism that can be activated in cases of exceptionally grave violations, for which a reaction is deemed urgent.

The introduction of this mechanism takes note of the fact that all previous withdrawal of preferences under GSP have taken up to two years to conclude.

Given the exceptional circumstances and degree of urgency under which this mechanism is intended to be used, the current seven- month timeframe is insufficiently rapid and should therefore be further reduced.

AMENDMENTS

The Committee on Development calls on the Committee on International Trade, as the committee responsible, to take into account the following amendments:

Read the rest (15 paragraphs)

Amendment 1

Proposal for a regulation

Article 9 – paragraph 1 – point d

Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
(d) it gives a binding undertaking to maintain ratification of the relevant conventions and to ensure the effective implementation thereof, accompanied by a plan of action for the effective implementation of the relevant conventions;(d) it gives a binding undertaking to maintain ratification of the relevant conventions and to ensure the effective implementation thereof, accompanied by a plan of action, which shall include clear roadmaps for the effective implementation of the relevant conventions, including any necessary legislative changes;

Or. en

Amendment 2

Proposal for a regulation

Article 9 – paragraph 1 a (new)

Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
1a. The plan of action referred to in paragraph 1, point (d) shall be made publicly available after having been jointly agreed between the Union and the GSP beneficiary;

Or. en

Amendment 3

Proposal for a regulation

Article 19 – paragraph 16

Text proposed by the CommissionAmendment
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) is reduced to 2 months and the deadline referred to in paragraph 8 is reduced to 5 months.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) is reduced to 1 month and the deadline referred to in paragraph 8 is reduced to 3 months.

Or. en