The EU’s Generalised Scheme of Preferences Plus (GSP+) gives developing countries a special incentive to pursue sustainable development and good governance.
Eligible countries have to implement 27 international conventions on:
- human rights
- labour rights
- the environment
- good governance
In return, the EU cuts its import duties to zero on more than two thirds of the tariff lines of their exports.
A motion overwhelmingly passed by the European Parliament on April 28th 2021, supported by all the Parliament’s political groups, called for suspension by the European Commission of Pakistan’s GSP+ trading status until such time as the country’s highly controversial Blasphemy Laws are repealed, and it complies with the criteria to be met to be eligible for GSP+ status.
The Commission, controversially, continues to ignore the will of Parliament in this matter.
The Brussels conference, which takes place on March 8th, 11 – 13.00 (CET) will discuss the European Commission’s much awaited fourth Biennial Report – already considerably overdue – on the situation, and will also compare the current human rights situation with that under the previous leadership.
The conference will be moderated by Willy Fautre, founder and director of the influential Brussels-based NGO Human Rights Without Frontiers.
Opening remarks will be made by Member of the European Parliament Peter van Dalen, a member of the European Parliament’s Subcommittee on Human Rights, and also the Committee on Foreign Affairs.
Panelists:
José Luis Bazan, COMECE Adviser on Migration, Asylum & Int’l Religious Freedom
Manel Msalmi, International affairs Advisor of MEPs of the European Peoples’ Party at the European Parliament.
Marco Respinti, Italian journalist, member of the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) , essayist, translator, and lecturer
Akmal Bhatti, lawyer (Pakistan), lawyer and chairman of Minorities Alliance Pakistan.
Tabassum Yousaf (Pakistan), High Court lawyer.
The event will be live-streamed at https://www.youtube.com/@BrusselsPressClubTV
March 8th, 11 – 13.00 (CET)
