Scheme of generalised tariff preferences: amending Annex III to the Regulation

The European Parliament rejected, by 313 votes to 285 with 40 abstentions, the Commission delegated regulation of 19 August 2014 amending Annex III to Regulation (EU) No 978/2012 of the European Parliament and of the Council applying a scheme of generalised tariff preferences.

Regulation (EU) No 978/2012 empowered the Commission to adopt delegated acts to establish or to amend Annex III in order to grant a requesting country the special incentive arrangement for sustainable development and good governance by adding that country to the list of GSP+ beneficiary countries.

Commission delegated regulation of 19 August 2014 amended Annex III to Regulation (EU) No 978/2012 of the European Parliament and of the Council applying a scheme of generalised tariff preferences with regard to the Philippines.

Members tabling the draft resolution asked that GSP+ status not be granted before the Commission had rescinded its notification to the Philippines as a possible identified non-cooperating third country in the fight against IUU fishing.

Furthermore, Members wanted Parliament to confirm its position following its resolution of 17 November 2011 to the effect that the concept of market state responsibility must be more fully developed as a means of closing down the markets for the products of IUU fishing. They stressed that it would be contradictory to grant a country GSP + access for its products, particularly fisheries products, while it was under an IUU procedure from the Commission.