Search

4.35. (...) The GSP+ arrangement requires countries to fulfil, ratify and effectively implement a total of 27 international conventions covering core human and labour rights, environmental protection, and good governance. (...)

4.36. In December 2017, the EU and its Member States updated their joint Aid for Trade (AfT) Strategy to change their collective approach towards supporting developing countries' trade and productive capacities . The objective of the updated strategy is to better align EU AfT interventions with actual market-driven opportunities and constraints, to ensure a better quantitative focus on LDCs and to increase the contribution of AfT to sustainable development goals, while supporting a stronger participation of women in the economy. (...)

4.46. Regarding horizontal due diligence legislation, in 2018, for the first time, listed companies, banks and insurance companies with more than 500 employees were required to disclose non financial information in their management reports relating to environmental, social and labour issues, respect for human rights, anti-corruption and bribery issues. (...)

4.47. The EU continues to promote fair and ethical trade schemes with a view to raising awareness on both the supply- and the demand-side and on developing more sustainable trade opportunities for small producers in third countries. The EU has introduced initiatives which aim to recognise cities' positive impact in social, economic and environmental sustainability in international trade. In 2017, the "EU Cities for Fair and Ethical Trade Award" was set up as a project.

4.48. In addition, a market study on consumer demand for fair and ethical products was finalised and presented in May 2018. The study focused on selected EU Member States and concluded that sustainable product sourcing has become a top priority for retailers who are increasingly "greening" their supply chains, adopting fair and ethical trade criteria and applying sustainability standards in overwhelming numbers.

5.5. In parallel, the EU will also continue to use its bilateral trade agenda to promote our values on sustainable development with social and environmental standards and sending a signal to the world that we are committed to open, fair and well-regulated markets hereby contributing to the preservation of a rules bases global governance system.

6. (...) The first main objective of this policy is to conclude new trade partnerships to build progressive rules for global trade and to use trade policy to promote universal values regarding environmental, social and labour protection and fundamental rights, and preserve the right to regulate in the public interest. (...) In addition, an Action Plan was adopted to improve the implementation and effectiveness of provisions on sustainable development in the EU's free trade agreements (FTAs)

18. The EU continues to apply several prohibitions, restrictions and licensing requirements on imports which have increased in number over the review period. New or expanded prohibitions or restrictions on imports that took effect during the review period concerned measures on mercury, invasive alien species, certain persistent organic pollutants and cultural goods, for example. A directive on the single use of plastics adopted in 2019 must be transposed by member States by July 2021. (...)

20. The EU does not impose taxes, charges or levies on exports. It maintains prohibitions or restrictions on the export of about 11 categories of products, many of which are applied pursuant to international agreements, such as CITES and the Montreal Protocol. The scope of export restrictions on mercury was expanded, regulations on certain goods which could be used for capital punishment, torture or other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment were replaced and codified into a new regulation, and more stringent measures were put in place for raw ivory. A ban on exports of certain plastic waste to non-EU countries will apply from 2021. (...)

22. (...) The total amount of state aid (excluding transport and agriculture) provided by member States increased from EUR 91 billion in 2014 to almost EUR 111 billion in 2017, largely due to an increase in aid for environmental protection (including energy saving).