The Generalised Scheme of Preferences should not be misused for migration purposes, MEPs say
Preferential trade access under the Generalised Scheme of Preferences should not be made conditional on the readmission of third-country nationals.
The Chair of the Committee on International Trade, Bernd Lange (S&D, DE), and the rapporteur on the Generalised Scheme of Preferences (GSP), Heidi Hautala (Greens/EFA, FI), issued the following statements on Friday after the fourth round of trilogue negotiations with the EU member states on a new rulebook on trade preferences for developing countries on Thursday:
Bernd Lange (S&D, DE): “The Council wants to turn this development instrument into a tool for migration. In their view developing countries that do not sufficiently cooperate to readmit their own nationals, should lose trade preferences. We made it very clear today that this is a no-go for the European Parliament. While I do recognise there might be issues we need to solve when it comes to migration, we are doing so in the Asylum and Migration Pact. Only last week the European Parliament adopted a report in which we clearly indicate that we want to work together with third countries on readmitting their own nationals in a cooperative and not in a punitive way.
Migration should not overshadow everything we do and damage one of the most important instruments the EU has at its disposal to lift countries out of poverty and contribute to sustainable development. I urge the Council to reassess its approach and not make readmission a conditionality to receive trade benefits. The European Commission should take up its role as an honest broker on this matter. We have a real opportunity to improve the impact of GSP by more efficient monitoring and implementation of conventions related to among others labour rights and environmental conventions, as is set out in the position of the European Parliament.”
Heidi Hautala (Greens/EFA, FI): “The GSP is a core instrument to promote sustainable development in partnership with developing countries and to significantly improve the implementation of international human rights and environmental standards. Short-term migration policy objectives should not piggyback on long-term development goals.
The European Parliament seeks to strengthen the instrument, give it more visibility and transparency, provide a stronger voice to stakeholders and civil society, and reinforce democratic oversight. I firmly believe the instrument should not be saddled with migration. EU’s approach to migration should solidly remain based on cooperation and partnerships with third countries. This view was also recently confirmed by the European Parliament’s vote on the Regulation on Asylum and Migration Management. We must not lose sight of the main objectives of poverty eradication and sustainable development”
Background
The Generalised System of Preferences is the EU’s preferential trade arrangement with developing countries and is in place since 1971. The system whereby developing countries need to pay lower import duties when exporting to the EU covers more than 60 countries and two billion people. The current GSP regulation expires at the end of 2023 and the negotiations between the European Parliament and the Council took off in January 2023. The new regulation is set to be in effect between 2024 and 2033. Yesterday, 27 April, the fourth round of inter-institutional negotiations took place.
The European Parliament has adopted its position on the new GSP legislation in May 2022.