BEGIN:VCALENDAR VERSION:2.0 PRODID:unctad.org BEGIN:VEVENT UID:6af37322dddbb DTSTART:20261026T090000Z SEQUENCE:0 TRANSP:OPAQUE DTEND:20261026T100000Z LOCATION:Online and Geneva\, Switzerland SUMMARY:European Union GSP briefing for UNCTAD – What is at stake for LDC s? CLASS:PUBLIC DESCRIPTION:2026 marks a significant milestone in EU–LDCs engagement in t he field of trade and economic cooperation as it is the 25th anniversary o f the EU’s landmark Everything But Arms (EBA) initiative. 2026 is also a milestone year for the GSP overall\, with the publication of the new GSP rules which confirm the renewed Generalised Scheme of Preferences (GSP) sc heme for the next 10 years and the EBA’s continuation. The new scheme wi ll apply from 1 January 2027. Together\, these milestones provide an oppor tunity to reflect on the contribution of EU trade preferences to developin g-country trade and sustainable development\, while looking ahead to how t he new framework can support stronger and more resilient trade partnership s.Partner countries\, in particular Asian and African Least Developed Coun tries (LDCs)\, have significantly benefitted from the EBA\, and will conti nue to do so under the EU’s new GSP regulation. In an increasingly fragm ented global trading environment\, the GSP and in particular the EBA arran gement provides LDCs with a valuable source of stable\, predictable\, and preferential access to a high-income market of over 450 million consumers. While this cannot by itself overcome structural development challenges\, it helps beneficiary countries maintain export competitiveness\, attract i nvestment\, diversify production\, and integrate into regional and Global Value Chains (GVCs).For many LDCs\, particularly in Africa\, these advanta ges become even more important as global trade becomes increasingly uncert ain and divided. Moreover\, the EU accompanies GSP beneficiaries with nume rous development cooperation projects that help them to reap the benefits of market access and support their sustainable development. As a number of LDCs are foreseen to graduate out of the category over the lifetime of th e next GSP Regulation\, emphasis will also be paid to arrangements\, such as the new GSP and GSP+\, designed to support a smooth transition out of E BA.ObjectiveThis public briefing will present the European Union’s new G eneralised Scheme of Preferences (GSP) regulation to UNCTAD membership and include experience-sharing interventions on GSP preferences by several de legations and a Q&\;A session.The briefing will particularly focus on t he benefits for LDCs via the EU’s Everything But Arms (EBA) offer. Overa ll\, the event should contribute to strengthening stakeholder networks and cooperation and raise awareness of the EU GSP. ModalitiesThe briefing wi ll be delivered by the European Commission (Jorg Wojahn\, Head of Unit for Bilateral Relations in Trade and Sustainable Development\, Unit C3\, Dire ctorate General for Trade\; accompanied by Kristiyana Kalcheva). It will o utline the key features of the EU GSP and its contributions to socio-econo mic development\; highlight the main changes in the new GSP scheme enterin g into application on 1 January 2027\; and offer opportunities for experie nce-sharing and questions from LDC delegations and UNCTAD’s membership.T he event will be held in person in Geneva with virtual connection availabl e via Zoom.<\;p>\;2026 marks a significant milestone in EU–LDCs enga gement in the field of trade and economic cooperation as it is the 25th an niversary of the EU’s landmark Everything But Arms (EBA) initiative. 202 6 is also a milestone year for the GSP overall\, with the publication of t he new GSP rules which confirm the renewed Generalised Scheme of Preferenc es (GSP) scheme for the next 10 years and the EBA’s continuation. The ne w scheme will apply from 1 January 2027. Together\, these milestones provi de an opportunity to reflect on the contribution of EU trade preferences t o developing-country trade and sustainable development\, while looking ahe ad to how the new framework can support stronger and more resilient trade partnerships.<\;/p>\;<\;p>\;Partner countries\, in particular Asia n and African Least Developed Countries (LDCs)\, have significantly benefi tted from the EBA\, and will continue to do so under the EU’s new GSP re gulation. In an increasingly fragmented global trading environment\, the G SP and in particular the EBA arrangement provides LDCs with a valuable sou rce of stable\, predictable\, and preferential access to a high-income mar ket of over 450 million consumers. While this cannot by itself overcome st ructural development challenges\, it helps beneficiary countries maintain export competitiveness\, attract investment\, diversify production\, and i ntegrate into regional and Global Value Chains (GVCs).<\;/p>\;<\;p&g t\;For many LDCs\, particularly in Africa\, these advantages become even m ore important as global trade becomes increasingly uncertain and divided. Moreover\, the EU accompanies GSP beneficiaries with numerous development cooperation projects that help them to reap the benefits of market access and support their sustainable development. As a number of LDCs are foresee n to graduate out of the category over the lifetime of the next GSP Regula tion\, emphasis will also be paid to arrangements\, such as the new GSP an d GSP+\, designed to support a smooth transition out of EBA.<\;/p>\;&l t\;h4>\;Objective<\;/h4>\;<\;p>\;This public briefing will prese nt the European Union’s new Generalised Scheme of Preferences (GSP) regu lation to UNCTAD membership and include experience-sharing interventions o n GSP preferences by several delegations and a Q&\;amp\;A session.<\; /p>\;<\;p>\;The briefing will particularly focus on the benefits for LDCs via the EU’s Everything But Arms (EBA) offer. Overall\, the event should contribute to strengthening stakeholder networks and cooperation an d raise awareness of the EU GSP.&\;nbsp\;<\;/p>\;<\;h4>\;Modali ties<\;/h4>\;<\;p>\;The briefing will be delivered by the European Commission (Jorg Wojahn\, Head of Unit for Bilateral Relations in Trade a nd Sustainable Development\, Unit C3\, Directorate General for Trade\; acc ompanied by Kristiyana Kalcheva). It will outline the key features of the EU GSP and its contributions to socio-economic development\; highlight the main changes in the new GSP scheme entering into application on 1 January 2027\; and offer opportunities for experience-sharing and questions from LDC delegations and UNCTAD’s membership.<\;/p>\;<\;p>\;The event will be held in person in Geneva with virtual connection available via Zo om.<\;/p>\;\n\nView meeting on unctad.org\nhttps://unctad.org/meeting/ european-union-gsp-briefing-unctad-what-stake-ldcs DTSTAMP:20261110T194018Z END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR