An EU GSP+ Monitoring Mission arrived in Sri Lanka yesterday (28 April) and will stay until 7 May to assess the country’s progress in meeting the conditions tied to the GSP+ trade preferences, according to a statement from the Political, Press, and Information Section of the Delegation of the European Union to Sri Lanka and the Maldives.
This visit is part of the regular biannual monitoring process, which the Sri Lankan government has committed to in order to retain GSP+ benefits. During their stay, the delegation will meet with government officials, key institutions, politicians, civil society groups, business associations, and trade unions. They also plan to conduct site visits across the country.
Sri Lanka is one of eight low- or lower-middle income countries currently benefiting from the GSP+ scheme. This special incentive promotes Sustainable Development and Good Governance and is available to vulnerable developing nations that have ratified and are implementing 27 key international conventions on human rights, labour rights, environmental protection, climate change, and good governance.
The European Union, a single market of 27 member states and a population of 450 million, remains Sri Lanka’s second-largest export destination. In 2024, Sri Lankan exports to the EU totaled €2.7 billion, with approximately 85% of these goods enjoying duty-free access under GSP+.

