The ban on Sri Lankan fishing imports into the EU could be removed in a few months, according to MEP Jan Zahradil, Vice-Chair of the EU Committee on International Trade (INTA), who is currently in Colombo.
Mr Zahradil said his visit was aimed at removing "irritants" in trade, and the EU parliamentary group ‘Friends of Sri Lanka’, of which he is a member, wanted to assess how to help Sri Lanka on removing the ban fishery exports and resuming the GSP plus export scheme which the island lost owing to human rights issues.
"Once monthly progress reports are sent to the European Commission we could try to put this on the agenda as a special point and can help solve this issue as soon as possible, perhaps in a horizon of months and not let it last for too long," he said during a meeting Rishad Bathiudeen, Minister of Industry and Commerce of Sri Lanka.
Fishing import ban on Sri Lanka to remain confirms EU (05 February 2015)
EU ban on Sri Lankan fishing exports suspended for six months claims Sri Lankan minister (04 Feb 2015)
EU experts to visit Sri Lanka regarding fishing import ban (01 Feb 2015)
Sri Lanka promises to comply with fishing rules after UK complaint (13 May 2012)
EU bans fisheries imports from Sri Lanka (14 Oct 2014)
Greenpeace welcomes European ban on Sri Lankan fish (16 Oct 2014)
EU suspends fish imports from Sri Lanka (16 January 2015)
Sri Lanka seeks postponement of EU fish import ban (24 January 2015)
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