Javiar Solana, Secretary General of the Council of the European Union, met Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama in New York on Wednesday and discussed, among other issues, the EU-GSP Plus review process, the Foreign Ministry said this week.
Mr Solana acknowledged that Sri Lanka had completed the critical phase by defeating terrorism but there were related issues which needed to be addressed. He said that the displaced must return to their areas of residence and hoped that the GSP Plus review process will have a positive outcome through concerted engagement on the part of Sri Lanka and the EU, the statement said.
It said Mr Bogollagama expressed some concern on Sri Lanka having to fulfill changing expectations in order to retain the preferential trading terms. He said the (EU) Commissioners should be advised to engage with countries rather than embark on an investigative process on issues of cooperation. “For this purpose the Minister observed that the Commissioners should seek to visit Sri Lanka as has been done by the EU political leadership,” the statement added. Sri Lanka has requested an extension of the GSP Plus concessions and its application is under consideration. |
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