An official delegation will hold discussions with the European Union on May 20 and 21 in Brussels. Announcing this in Parliament today, External Affairs Minister Prof G L Peiris said that the government policy is to continue the deliberations with the EU to resolve the issue.

The government earlier announced that it responsibly and diligently engaged with the EU on the GSP+ issue. Foreign Secretary Romesh Jayasinghe and Treasury Secretary T B Jayasundara participated in the last round of talks with the European Union on GSP issue.

In response to the EU decision to temporarily suspend the GSP+ concession, the government assured that it would continue its dialogue with the EU on the set of measures that will result in rapid, demonstrable and sustainable progress in relation to issues of concern raised by the EU, which would lead to a possible reversal of the decision for temporary suspension prior to implementation.

While emphasising that Sri Lanka values its longstanding friendly relations with the EU, the government however pointed out that the purposefulness of the dialogue, however, will be further heightened if it is undertaken on terms respectful of one another and with sincerity by both parties.

The government expressed hope that this engagement will result in the timely reversal of the temporary suspension, which will enable the Sri Lankan people to continue to draw for their development on the GSP+ facility.