28 April 2017

Members of the European Parliament yesterday voted in favour of restoring GSP+ status to Sri Lanka. This removes import duties on many Sri Lankan products, in exchange for the country’s commitment to ratify an​d​ implement 27 international conventions on human rights, labour conditions, protection of the environment and good governance [1].

The duty concessions make Sri Lankan exports to the European Union cheaper and more competitive. The EU is Sri Lanka’s main export destination, absorbing 31% of Sri Lankan exports in 2015 [2].

Jean Lambert, London’s Green MEP and Chair of the European Parliament’s Delegation to South Asia says:​​

“We must be clear that restoring GSP+ status to Sri Lanka should not be viewed as a reward but as a mutual commitment. The deal allows the EU to offer certain trade benefits designed to help the country’s development and, in exchange, the Sri Lankan Government takes meaningful steps to improve human rights, labour rights, environmental protection, and good governance. Sri Lanka will need to work hard to improve implementation of the 27 International Conventions it has ratified in these areas. This, in turn, will have a positive impact on the people of Sri Lanka.

After much consideration, I voted against yesterday’s proposal of rejection of GSP+. This is not because I believe that all is well in Sri Lanka. I know it is not. The country has many obstacles to overcome, including reconciliation and a post-conflict political settlement. However, rather than casting Sri Lanka aside, I want to give its Government an incentive to implement tangible measures towards human rights and sustainable development. GSP+ gives us a framework to work toward this, and closely monitor its progress.

I am not naïve about Sri Lanka keeping to its promises. The nature of the agreement is that action is required from both the European Union and the Sri Lankan Government. If one party doesn’t deliver its promises, the other can call time on the deal – as Sri Lanka well knows.”

Notes

• Sri Lanka benefited from GSP+ in the past. However, in 2010 the European Union halted the preferential treatment for Sri Lankan imports u to the country’s failure to comply with international human rights obligations. In 2015, the state’s new government embarked on a path of major reforms aiming for national reconciliation, respect of human rights, the rule of law, good governance principles, and sustainable economic development. The Sri Lankan government reapplied for GSP+ in July 2016 [3].

• The proposal that GSP+ should not be granted to Sri Lanka Was defeated by 436 against and 119 in favour with 22 abstentions.

[1] http://trade.ec.europa.eu/doclib/docs/2017/january/tradoc_155235.pdf

[2] http://www.ft.lk/article/612002/Sri-Lanka-secures-crucial-EU-GSP–vote

[3] http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_IP-17-34_en.htm

ENDS

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Jean wrote to the UK Government’s Department for International Development, DFID, to raise the issue of support for sugar cane farmers, who will be affected by changes to EU rules governing EU sugar beet production.

You can read Jean’s letter here and DFID’s reply here.

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Published on the letters page of today’s London Evening Standard:

We wholeheartedly support the international day of action against the proposed EU-US trade deal TTIP (Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership) which will be happening this Saturday and will be joining campaigners across Europe.

In short, TTIP could wipe away hard won labour rights that protect us at work, environmental regulations that aim towards conserving our planet, and food safety laws that safeguard our health. The NHS is also under threat as TTIP would not only expose it to further privatisation but could leave future governments with no chance of reversing the changes.

Over the last few months we’ve been inundated with letters from constituents expressing their concern. The scariest part is that if the Investor/State dispute mechanism is included in TTIP we’d be a step closer to corporations writing laws instead of governments. It must be stopped.

Signed

Jean Lambert, Green MEP London

Keith Taylor, Green MEP South East England

Molly Scott-Cato, Green MEP South West England

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The UK Green MEPs – Jean Lambert, Keith Taylor and Molly Scott Cato – proposed the following motion to the Green Party of England and Wales‘ Autumn 2014 conference in Birmingham. It is adopted with overwhelming support.

Stop TTIP

The proposed EU-US trade deal, the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership, will be a disaster for the UK and for the EU. Green MEPs have been at the forefront of campaigns to stop TTIP and have voted against it. There has also been opposition from US Greens.

TTIP negotiations are being conducted with barely any public or democratic input or oversight. Although other trade deals have been negotiated beyond the reach of public scrutiny, the scale of TTIP makes its impact much greater and the need for public, democratic oversight even more urgent.

Big business has had excessive influence over the negotiations. In the preparatory phase, of the 590 meetings which took place between the EU Commission and lobby representatives, 92% were with representatives of private companies.

TTIP will undermine the rule of law by establishing a parallel justice system if it includes the proposed Investor-State Dispute Settlement mechanism (ISDS). ISDS gives powers to private arbitration panels to require compensation to private companies deemed to have suffered losses as a result of EU or national laws, with no recourse to appeal. ISDS will have a chilling effect on public policy, undermines democracy, and strengthens the power of private corporations.

The TTIP deal would lead to ‘harmonising’ of EU and US laws. This could lead to high standards in the EU or USA being lowered. This could have serious impacts on workers’ rights, environment, animal protection and food safety standards, digital rights and financial regulation.

TTIP will make liberalisation and privatisation ‘one way streets’. Returning public utilities, hospitals or waste collection to the public sector once privatised will be much more difficult or even impossible under TTIP. This represents a real threat to the NHS and other public services.

Conference calls on the Green Party Executive, Greens elected to public office, and Green Party candidates and members to:

– Support and sign the ‘Stop TTIP’ European Citizens’ Initiative, which is launching in September, and which will require the EU Commission to take action if it receives one million EU signatures.[*]

– Support and publicise the European Day of Action against TTIP on Saturday 11 October.

– Call for MEPs and MPs from all parties to oppose TTIP

– Advocate a fair and sustainable EU trade policy, based on the Alternative Trade Mandate coalition proposals.

[*] See http://stop-ttip.org

Motion adopted on Sunday 07 September 2014.

ENDS

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ISDS-Consulation-JL-response

To take part in the consultation, click here.

To read ‘From your dinner plate to your pay packet’, a briefing on TTIP by Jean and Keith Taylor, South East England’s Green Party MEP, click here.

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After a long campaign led by Green MEPs in the European Parliament, the EU outlawed the import of all products using derived from commercially slaughtered seals in 2009.

The ban led to a WTO challenge by Norway and Canada on the grounds that it violated international free trade commitments.

But yesterday the WTO issued a ground-breaking final report on the case, upholding the ban – and the EU’s right to restrict imports on ‘moral grounds’.
The news was welcomed by Green Euro-MPs Jean Lambert (London) and Keith Taylor (South-East England).

Ms Lambert said: “This is truly a ground-breaking ruling, establishing clearly the right of the EU to set, democratically, its own moral standards.

“The EU ban on the barbaric trade of seal products was a real victory for the global campaign against animal cruelty. By closing the door on fur and other seal products, Parliament took meaningful action to save hundreds of thousands of seals from being cruelly killed.

“But the Canadian and Norwegian WTO challenge was a direct attack on European animal welfare law and the democratic values of the majority of Europeans – and Canadians – who support the ban, and I am delighted the challenge has failed.”

Mr Taylor, a member of the European Parliament’s International Trade Committee, added: “During the International Trade Committee’s debates on the recently-agreed EU-Canada trade agreement I have repeatedly highlighted Canada’s barbaric practice of seal culling. The EU ban on seal products reflects the views of Europeans who do not want to play a part in this cruel industry. I hope the Canadian government will now accept the ban and stop trying to challenge the democratic decision of the European Parliament.

“If Canada and Norway want to continue cruelly slaughtering seals, it is a sad decision but it is their decision, just as it is the EU’s right to decide to ban these products.”

During 2012 an estimated 69,000 harp seals were slaughtered during Canada’s annual hunt, each one clubbed and shot under cruel conditions primarily for their fur.

More information on the Canadian seal hunt can be found here.

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