b'8.1. GSP+ The Generalised Scheme of Preferences Plus (GSP+) allows eligible countries to benefit from generous EU tariff cuts only if they ratify and effectively implement 27 international conventions in the fields of human rights, core labour standards, sustainable development and good governance. A country seeking to benefit from these privileges must submit a request to the European Commission, which shall assess the most recent available conclusions of the monitoring bodies of the relevant conventions.Resolution 3281 (XXIX) of the United Nations General Assembly, of 12 December 1974,and in particular Article 32 thereof, declares that no State may use or encourage the useEven with full ratification, the EU can still of economic, political or any other type ofdecide to cancel its side of the GSP+ measures to coerce another State in orderarrangement. The EU did this to Sri Lanka in to obtain from it the subordination of the2010 even though the country had suffered exercise of its sovereign rights.over 25 years of civil war and the Asian super-tsunami. (Cancellation of GSP+ may On 12 April 2012, the author tabled thehave cost Sri Lanka around 1.5 billion). following question to the Commission that remarked this Resolution:Following a change of government in Sri Lanka in January 2015 via democratic The EU GSP+ scheme requires countrieselection, when Maithripala Sirisena became to make huge legal commitments, andpresident, the author tabled the following thus uses economic coercion to forcequestion to the Commission: sovereign nation states to change their laws. Does the Commission concede thatIn view of the change of government in the GSP+ scheme violates the above-Sri Lanka, does the Commission have any mentioned UN resolution?plans to review the countrys exclusion from the GSP+? Former EU Trade Commissioner Karel De Gucht responded thatThe Commissions response, delivered onbehalf of current EU Trade Commissioner The special incentive arrangement forCecilia Malmstrm on 1 May 2015, stated sustainable development and goodthat Sri Lanka must re-submit an application governance (GSP+) is a fully voluntaryto be included in GSP+ with The onus. on scheme for additional tariff preferencesSri Lanka to express its commitmentand which countries can apply for if they soengagement in the GSP+ process.wish. 104'