Towards a new Generalised Scheme of Preferences regulation for developing countries

The European Commission is proposing a new General Scheme of Preferences regulation to replace the current one that expires at the end of 2023. This initial appraisal of the Commission’s impact assessment (IA) on the proposal finds that the IA logically links the problems, their drivers, the objectives and the policy interventions under consideration. However, the IA remains evasive on the impacts of crucial aims of the regulation -- poverty eradication and advancing sustainable development and good governance. Additionally, when presenting pro and con arguments, it is not always apparent where the IA stands on the issues. Moreover, only some of the operational objectives are specific and measurable, raising questions as to the feasibility of those that are not. It is also important to note that on product coverage, a key issue raised in the EP’s 2019 resolution, there seems to be a discrepancy between the recommendations analysed in the external study and their interpretation in the IA.