EU conservatives support continuation of GSP for BD

---

Nizam Ahmed The Conservative Group (CG) representing the United Kingdom, Italy, Belgium and seven other countries in the European Union (EU) has expressed supports for continuation of duty-free and quota-free access of Bangladeshi products to the EU market. The supports were expressed during a debate in the European Parliament (EP) Thursday before adoption of an EP resolution relating to the readymade garment (RMG) sector of Bangladesh. During the debate others called for withdrawal of the facility for Bangladeshi products in the EU market in the wake of the deadliest incident in the RMG sector late last month. The CG advocated that the EU should not impose any trade sanctions on Bangladesh due to the Rana Plaza collapse that killed at least 1,127 workers and maimed scores of others at Savar in Dhaka. On the other hand, some members of the EP during the debate alleged lax safety standard at workplaces in Bangladesh. They also pressed the parliament for taking a decision to discontinue the Generalised System of Preference (GSP) facility for Bangladeshi products in the EU market, unless the country improves safety measures in the RMG factories. "Bangladesh is a secure and stable democracy and should not be singled out above other countries with poor safety records," a statement of the CG quoted its Foreign Affairs Spokesman Charles Tannock as saying in his deliberations. The EP resolution adopted Thursday said the trade benefits being enjoyed by Bangladesh in the EU market may be withdrawn, if the principles set out in different human rights conventions continue to be violated seriously and systematically in the country. "They call on the Commission to investigate Bangladesh's compliance with these conventions and they expect an investigation to be considered, if Bangladesh is found to be in serious and systematic violation of the principles laid down in these conventions," said a media release from the EP. But the CG spokesman earlier said: "The EU should refrain from taking a hectoring and punitive approach and that trade restrictions, if imposed, will be a retrograde step." The European Conservatives Group, formed in the EU in 2009, is one of the medium-size groups in the EP, the website of it says. The other members of the influential group in the EP are the Czech Republic, Denmark, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland and the Netherlands Supporting and agreeing with the observations of Mr Tannock, Mr Karel de Gucht of the EU Trade Commission said like Bangladesh there were such safety concerns in many other countries as well and so Bangladesh should not be singled out to be "named and shamed." But EP member and Greek Communist Giorgios Toussas suggested organised efforts to improve safety standards in factories in Bangladesh, where the garment industry earns more than $19 billion a year, constituting more than 80 per cent of the country's aggregate exports worth $24 billion. "Those responsible for the collapse of the Rana Plaza, the Tazreen Fashions fire or any other incident should be brought to book so that the victims have full access to the justice system, and that a financial compensation plan can be established," said the EP resolution. The members of the EP recognised the importance of the recently-finalised 'Accord on Fire and Building Safety in Bangladesh' between the trade unions, non-governmental organisations and some 40 multinational textile retailers. The resolution also called on all other relevant textile brands to support this effort to improve safety standards in Bangladesh. The members of the EP also appreciated an action plan adopted in early May with a view to amending the labour law, but demanded that Bangladesh government and the relevant judicial authorities investigate allegations and punish those who violated the country's building codes for illegal pecuniary benefits jeopardising lives of the people.