Discussing the EU-GSP plus review process, Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama expressed some concern on Sri Lanka having to fulfill changing expectations in order to retain the preferential trading terms on 7200 items, when he met Javiar Solana, Secretary General of the Council of the European Union, in New York.

He underscored the need for the European Commission to have greater understanding on the ground realities and seek engagement on a wider agenda in order to have vibrant engagement with Sri Lanka. He opined that the Commissioners should be advised to engage with countries rather than embark on an investigative process on issues of cooperation. For this purpose the Minister observed that the Commissioners should seek to visit Sri Lanka as has been done by the EU political leadership.

Secretary General Solana acknowledged that Sri Lanka had completed the critical phase by defeating terrorism but there were related issues which needed to be addressed. He said that the displaced must return to their areas of habitat.

He hoped that the GSP plus review process will have a positive outcome through concerted engagement on the part of Sri Lanka and the EU.