Bishkek, 12 September 2022 – Today, the monitoring mission of the European Union Generalised Scheme of Preferences plus (EU GSP+) has arrived in Bishkek. On the occasion of the mission inception, the mission members met with the Deputy Minister of Economy and Commerce of the Kyrgyz Republic, Ms Veronika Isaeva. As a beneficiary of GSP+ since 2016, Kyrgyzstan enjoys generous trade preferences and complete removal of tariffs on 66% of all products exported to the EU.

The main goal of the mission is to perform a GSP+ compliance dialogue with the Kyrgyz Government as well as local stakeholders, including civil society, businesses, trade unions and international partners. The dialogue will cover 27 international conventions on human and labour rights, climate and environment, and good governance.

In the margins of the mission, annual EU-Kyrgyzstan Human Rights Dialogue will take place on 15 September in Bishkek. During the Dialogue, the parties will discuss situation and latest developments in the country as regards respect to human rights, fundamental freedoms and good governance. It will bring together EU mission members and representatives of the various ministries and state agencies.

About GSP+

GSP+ is a special EU incentive for sustainable development and good governance that supports developing countries. In addition to fulfilling the eligibility requirements of the Standard GSP, GSP+ countries, including Kyrgyzstan, are required to ratify and effectively implement 27 international conventions. In return, EU cuts its import duties to zero on more than two thirds of tariff lines. Kyrgyzstan is among the nine countries worldwide – beneficiaries of GSP+.