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2.15. The review period also saw increased interest in ways to improve the practical implementation and effectiveness of sustainable development provisions in EU FTAs. (...) While there were suggestions for the introduction of economic sanctions to enforce compliance with sustainable development provisions, this was opposed by most participants in the debate. (...) A non-paper, issued in February 2018 concluding this debate, set out an Action Plan of 15 concrete steps aimed at: (...) (ii) enabling civil society to play a more effective role in the implementation of sustainable development provisions, including by facilitating the monitoring role of civil society, allowing civil society to comment and provide advice not only on provisions of sustainable development chapters but, more generally, on other FTA provisions with implications for sustainable development, and reinforcing the implementation of provisions on corporate social responsibility; (...)

2.21. The Commission carries out impact assessment analyses to support its decision-making for all proposals with significant direct impact, including in the trade policy area. (...) The assessment includes an online public consultation of interested parties. At the stage of negotiations, the Commission carries out trade sustainability impact assessments (SIAs) to analyse the economic, environmental, human rights and social impacts of the proposed trade agreements for both the EU and its trading partners. SIAs are independent studies conducted by external consultants, involving comprehensive consultations with stakeholders and taking into account their knowledge and concerns both in the EU and in the trading partner. (...)

2.30. The EU divides its FTAs with third countries into four broad categories:
(...)
• "new-generation FTAs" are comprehensive FTAs, negotiated by the EU after 2006, with selected third countries, which typically go beyond provisions on liberalization of trade in goods. (...) Since 2010, all new-generation agreements include provisions on sustainable development. [48] (...)
(...)

[48] European Commission, Individual reports and info sheets on implementation of EU Free Trade Agreements, p. 15.

2.32. (...) The new-generation FTAs are characterized by their broad scope, high level of ambition, and innovative features in areas such as investment and sustainable development. Aside from the new economic opportunities expected to be generated by these recent FTAs, the EU stresses their strategic benefits. In a more uncertain and unstable international trading environment, it regards these FTAs as important signals of a shared commitment to open trade and a willingness to pursue international cooperation to shape global trade in accordance with common values.

2.34. The EPA between the EU and Japan (EU-Japan EPA) was signed on 17 July 2018 and entered into force on 1 February 2019. (...) it includes provisions on IP (including geographical indications) and government procurement; and it lays down rules on sustainable development, among other elements. Some innovative features of the EU-Japan EPA include the express reference to the Paris Agreement on Climate Change, a chapter aimed at supporting the use of the Agreement by small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), and provisions on corporate governance. (...)

2.35. (...) The FTA with Singapore, the first EU FTA with a country in Southeast Asia, is seen as a building block towards the conclusion of an FTA with ASEAN. It covers provisions on national treatment and market access; (...) non-tariff barriers to trade and investment in renewable energy generation; (...) trade and sustainable development; and (...).

2.45. The EU Generalised Scheme of Preferences (GSP), introduced in 1971 and implemented through successive Council regulations, provides preferential access to the EU market, to assist developing countries in their efforts to reduce poverty and promote sustainable development and good governance. The current GSP Regulation is the product of a reform that pursued three main objectives: (i) to contribute to poverty eradication by expanding exports from countries most in need; (ii) to promote sustainable development and good governance; and (iii) to ensure better safeguards for the EU's financial and economic interests. It entered into force in January 2014 for a period of ten years.

2.49. The Special Incentive Arrangement for Sustainable Development and Good Governance (GSP+) grants complete duty suspension for essentially the same 66% of tariff lines as the Standard GSP, for countries which are especially vulnerable in terms of their economies' diversification and export volumes, and which have ratified, and effectively implemented, 27 core international conventions. (...)

2.58. The Commission defines the objectives of EU investment policy as to: (...) promote investment that supports sustainable development, respect for human rights and high labour and environmental standards; attract international investment into the EU, while protecting the EU's essential interests; (...)

3.4. DG TAXUD also continues to work on the EU Single Window (SW) environment for customs initiative, which was launched in 2012 with its first pilot project and is currently in operation in nine member States. [6] The SW initially incorporated the certificates for the Common Veterinary Entry Document and Common Entry Document. Last year, it incorporated new certificates i.e. the Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade (FLEGT) licence, the Certificate of Organic Inspection (COI), the Common Health Entry Document for Plant Protection (CHED-PP). Other certificates are under integration (i.e. Ozone-Depleting Substances (ODS), Fluorinated Greenhouse Gases (f-gases) and Dual-Use Export Goods); implementation is targeted for early 2021.

[6] Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Cyprus, Estonia, Ireland, Latvia, Poland, Portugal, and Slovenia.