INNOCENT SRI LANKANS WILL SUFFER BECAUSE OF HEAVY HANDED EU DECISION TO END TRADE CONCESSIONS
Posted, February 16, 2010 @ 00:00
Brussels 16 February 2010. Conservative International Trade spokesman in Europe Robert Sturdy MEP, said the European Commission decision to remove trade concessions to Sri Lanka would punish innocent Sri Lankans. The trade concessions are referred to as GSP + status.
Mr Sturdy added that human rights violations cannot be ignored but called on the European Commission to work closely with the Sri Lankan government in tackling any violations instead of punishing the country as a whole.
In a statement Mr Sturdy said,
"I am concerned about the impact that the removal of these trade concessions will have on development in Sri Lanka. Trade is the principal means for development and by taking away their GSP + status, you are limiting the country's ability to grow.
"I wrote in December 2009 asking the Commission what the economic impact would be if it decided to remove Sri Lanka' GSP+ status. I am still awaiting a response. Now we have a new Trade Commissioner, with a background in development policy, I would hope for some real answers.
"It goes without saying that human rights violations cannot be ignored. I am calling on the Commission to work closely with the Sri Lankan government over the next few months, to assess the efforts being made to tackle any violations, and to consider how it will support the innocent Sri Lankan people who will suffer as a result of this heavy-handed action."