DailyMirror
Following the departure of a high level Sri Lankan delegation to Brussels over the weekend, the European Union (EU) now says that it may consider the possibility of extending the GSP+ facility through mutual agreements on key areas of concern, the EU said today.
EU Head Bernard Savage told Daily Mirror that it is conscious of the importance of the GSP+ trade concession on the Sri Lankan economy and had no intention of causing harm to the country.
“The EU looks forward to further improvement in three main areas in Sri Lanka’s domestic affairs such as the complete and total application to international conventions agreed to by Sri Lanka on civil rights, labor rights and children’s rights,” Savage said.
He added that the extension of the GSP+ was inter-connected with these issues and the EU and Sri Lanka would focus on the measures that should be taken by both sides to pave the way forward for the extension of the trade concession.
A high level four member delegation is currently in Brussels to hold discussions with the EU in an effort to regain the trade concessions after the Commission made an announcement last month that it would be withdrawn in six months.
Treasury Secretary P.B. Jayasundara, Attorney General Mohan Peiris, Foreign Affairs Secretary Romesh Jayasinghe and Justice Ministry Secretary Suhada Gamlath have been sent by the government to Brussels in order to retain the trade concessions.