Euratex questions Pakistan's inclusion in GSP+
08/11/2013
Euratex opposed the act on the grounds that it said it did not allow an effective assessment of each country’s application.
Alberto Paccanelli, Euratex president, said: “In Euratex's opinion, not all fulfil the necessary conditions. This is certainly the case in Pakistan, one of the leading world exporters and a country that has a dominant position in the EU market for a considerable number of textile products."
Euratex claims independent reports show Pakistan has a poor record in matters related to human rights and "in particular to the protection of religious minorities, women and children".
The EU introduced the GSP, a general preferential market access scheme aimed at providing developing countries with an added advantage, in 1999. The GSP+ was launched in 2006 as an incentive scheme for especially vulnerable countries that have implemented key international conventions on sustainable development, labour rights and good governance.
Mr Paccanelli added: “Unfortunately, by approving the proposal, the European Parliament has prevented a country-by-country evaluation allowing Pakistan to obtain a preferential treatment that it would have not obtained under different circumstances.”
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