European Union Ambassador delivers powerful message at Pathfinder Roundtable

Pathfinder Ambassador’s Roundtable, with Carmen Moreno of the European Union, PF Chairman Bernard Goonetilleke, and participants. Ambassador Carmen Moreno of the European Union, who made remarks on “EU-Sri Lanka: Partnership for Growth”

The Pathfinder Foundation held an Ambassador’s Roundtable, featuring Ambassador Carmen Moreno of the European Union, who made remarks on “EU-Sri Lanka: Partnership for Growth”

 Pathfinder Ambassador’s Roundtable, with Carmen Moreno of the European Union, PF Chairman Bernard Goonetilleke, PF Director A. A. Jawad, also in picture 

The Pathfinder Foundation held an Ambassador’s Roundtable, featuring Ambassador Carmen Moreno of the European Union, who made remarks on “EU-Sri Lanka: Partnership for Growth.” Representatives from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, think tanks, the European Chamber of Commerce, and the print and electronic media attended the event.

The roundtable’s purpose was to share the EU’s perspective on the prospects and opportunities for engagement between Sri Lanka and the world’s largest economic bloc, the European Union, which comprises twenty-seven countries with a combined population of 450 million, especially in light of evolving global dynamics. 

Ambassador Moreno provided a comprehensive briefing on the GSP+ trade incentive scheme offered by the European Union to Sri Lanka and seven other developing countries, which allows duty-free access to the EU market. To obtain maximum benefits under this scheme, which gives Sri Lanka duty-free access to the largest trading bloc in the world, she highlighted the importance of enhancing knowledge for identifying and accessing markets in Europe and engaging in economic diplomacy. Sharing an important message, she stated that Sri Lanka could partner better with the EU by engaging fully with the GSP + facility. Highlighting the fact that Sri Lanka’s major exports to the EU remain textiles and apparel products since the inception of the facility in 2005, she said that the island needs an industrialisation policy rather than a trade policy to expand and diversify exports, thus better utilising the preferential trade facility offered under the GSP + scheme.

Ambassador Moreno explained that the recipient countries of the facility have voluntarily reached agreements with the EU covering several critical areas. They include human rights, labour rights, environmental protection, good governance, etc., the conditions bound by ratifying 27 core international conventions. Beyond ratification of these conventions, recipient countries must effectively implement them and comply with the reporting requirements. Once granted, GSP+ status permits the beneficiary country to export over two-thirds of the product tariff line to the EU with zero duties, facilitating increased trade and economic growth for their countries.

Sri Lanka received the GSP+ status in 2005 following the tsunami that devastated the island’s coastal areas in the previous year. However, after receiving the status, the country was found to be weak in implementing the conditions, which resulted in losing the facility in August 2010 after a series of forewarnings by the EU. The facility was regained in May 2017 after a review of the country’s improved ground conditions. Against this backdrop, Ambassador Moreno emphasised the importance of compliance, a major responsibility of recipient countries. The GSP+ monitoring mission, which is an ongoing activity, ensures compliance. Compliance is critically important since beneficiary countries must adhere to five additional conventions covering disability rights, child rights, labour rights, climate change, and transnational organised crime.

The event provided a platform for exchanging candid views and significant engagement between the speaker and Sri Lankan participants, particularly the media personnel. Engagements of this nature would help foster a greater understanding of the EU’s expectations and Sri Lanka’s performance, which would benefit Sri Lanka’s future economic development. 

The Pathfinder Foundation has held several similar events with the Heads of Mission of France, Australia, the UK and New Zealand, who are based in Sri Lanka, to gain insights into prospects for further cooperation. 

In addition to the Ambassador’s Roundtable, Pathfinder also conducts its “Dialogue with Diplomats” at regular intervals. This is intended to brief Colombo-based diplomatic personnel on current topical issues covering vital subjects of importance and provide them with a better understanding of such issues.