The first monitoring mission of the EU Commission in Uzbekistan within the framework of the GSP + system was completed.

On March 24-30, 2022, representatives of the Directorate-General of the European Union for Trade in cooperation with the Delegation of the European Union to Uzbekistan carried out the first monitoring mission in our country.

The purpose of the visit is to hold meetings with representatives of relevant ministries and departments in charge of implementation of 27 international conventions ratified by Uzbekistan as a beneficiary of the GSP+ system and integration of the requirements of these conventions into the current legislation.

The Government of the Republic of Uzbekistan, in the process of submitting an official application for the status of a beneficiary of the GSP+ system, made corresponding commitments to cooperate with the European Union within the monitoring framework.

Meetings were held with representatives of the Ministry of Investments and Foreign Trade, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Employment and Labor Relations, Ministry of Internal Affairs, Prosecutor General’s Office, State Committee for Ecology and Environmental Protection, Representative of the Commissioner of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan for Human Rights (Ombudsman), Chamber of Commerce and Industry, UN, IFIs, UNICEF, UNDP and representative offices of other international organizations in Uzbekistan, as well as representatives of a number of non-governmental non-profit organizations.

During this monitoring mission, representatives of the European Commission reviewed the conditions created for workers at production facilities in terms of compliance with the requirements of International labor law and human rights, visiting textile clusters in Namangan region that regularly export products to the countries of the European Union.

Representatives of the EU Commission held a meeting of the monitoring mission on clusters of labor rights, ecology and environmental protection at the Ministry of Investments and Foreign Trade.

Representatives of the European side were provided with information on the measures taken by ministries and agencies within the framework of the implementation of the requirements of international conventions in the legislation of the country.

It was noted that the GSP+ beneficiary status will create a solid foundation for further diversification and development of trade and economic relations between Uzbekistan and the European Union. These advantages will serve as an effective trade and economic tool for sustainable growth and economic development of Uzbekistan.

The EU representatives highly appreciated the large-scale reforms aimed at forming a state system based on respect for human rights, stimulating entrepreneurship, ensuring economic transparency and improving living standards under the leadership of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, and also noted that they will serve to strengthen close cooperation between the sides.

Following the meeting with representatives of the EU Commission, an agreement was reached on further cooperation in the framework of effective use of the advantages of the GSP+ system and the introduction of the requirements of international conventions into the national legislation of Uzbekistan.