A press release issued by the European Union mission in Islamabad said a monitoring mission of the Generalized Planning Plus (GSP+) of the European Union (EU) reached Islamabad on Wednesday to assess the effective implementation of 27 international conventions.
Pakistan was Approved GSP+ status in 2013, giving Pakistani products duty-free access to the European market.
The European Union Monitoring Mission, which includes officials from the European External Action Service (EEAS) and the European Commission’s Directorate General for Trade and Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion, will assess the effective implementation of the 27 international conventions that Pakistan is a signatory to.
During its stay in Islamabad, the mission will hold meetings with the government, the United Nations (UN) country team, the International Labor Organisation, representatives of business and civil society, and other stakeholders.
“The mission’s findings will form part of the next GSP+ report, which is to be presented to the European Parliament and Council at the end of 2022,” the press release said.
The GSP+ is a robust trade and development policy instrument established since 1971. Pakistan has been a major recipient of the GSP+ scheme for the past seven years. Under this situation – due to expire on December 31, 2023 – there is a zero percent duty on many products.
Under the current GSP+ system, the EU continues to monitor progress made by beneficiary countries towards the implementation of the 27 international conventions.
Effective implementation of the conventions is a prerequisite for 66 percent of tariff lines in EU markets to be eligible to export goods at zero duty, the EU press release said.
It elaborated that the conventions are related to human and labor rights, environmental protection, climate change and good governance.
“The European Union continuously monitors the implementation of the 27 international conventions which are based, inter alia, on reports and information by the United Nations (UN) and other international agencies that are the custodians.[s] of the respective conference,” the press release said.
“The EU regularly sends monitoring missions to assess the situation on the ground and subsequently reflect its assessment in publicly available reports to the European Parliament and EU Member States in the Council,” adding that “So far, three biennial reviews have been concluded in 2016, 2018 and 2020, respectively.”
The press release further explained that the GSP+ provides “comprehensive tariff priorities for imports to the EU from vulnerable developing countries, including poverty alleviation, sustainable development and their participation in the global economy.” [to] Strengthening good governance.
“This preferential status is conditional on GSP+ countries demonstrating concrete progress on the implementation of the 27 international conventions.”
In addition to Pakistan, the European Union currently grants GSP+ tariff concessions to Bolivia, Cabo Verde, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, the Philippines, Sri Lanka and Uzbekistan.
The current GSP framework expires in December 2023, and the legislative process for 2024-2033 on its successor is underway, the press release said.
‘GSP+ extremely beneficial for Pakistani businessmen’
The EU press release said, “GSP+ has been very beneficial to Pakistani business[es]Its exports to the EU market have increased by 65pc since joining the scheme in 2014”.
“The European Single Market, with over 440 million consumers, is Pakistan’s most important destination. Pakistan’s exports of EUR 5.4 billion are mainly textiles, bed-linen, terry towels, hosiery, leather, sports,” the press release said. And surgical accessories are included.”
As underlined by Josep Borrell Fontels, High Representative and Vice President of the European Commission, “the GSP plan is about the joint commitment of the EU and Pakistan to sustainable development.”
The press release referred to a statement made in 2021 by the Executive Vice President and Commissioner for Trade at the European Commission, Valdis Dombrowski.
Dombrowski said: “For five decades, the EU GSP has supported growing in a sustainable manner by giving vulnerable countries preferential access to the EU market. This allows beneficiary countries to diversify their economies and create jobs. It has also galvanized the beneficiary countries. To improve human and labor rights, environment and good governance.”