Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — A European Union (EU) monitoring mission has arrived in Uzbekistan as part of the Generalized System of Preferences Plus (GSP+) program. The visit will continue until 20 March 2025.

The delegation includes experts from various directorates of the EU headquarters in Brussels. The primary goal of the mission is to assess Uzbekistan’s progress in fulfilling its international commitments related to human rights, labor rights, environmental protection, climate action, and good governance.

During the visit, EU representatives will hold meetings with the Uzbek government, UN agencies, civil society organizations, and social partners in Tashkent and Bukhara. Special attention will be given to discussions on the implementation of the 27 international conventions required for participation in the GSP+ program.

Since the last monitoring mission in 2022, Uzbekistan has significantly strengthened its trade relations with the EU. Thanks to the preferential GSP+ regime, around 60% of Uzbek exports to the EU are exempt from tariffs, benefiting key sectors such as chemicals, fertilizers, cotton, and plastics.

According to EU data, Uzbekistan is among the top beneficiaries of the program, utilizing nearly 84% of all available trade preferences in 2023.

For the current reporting period, the EU has identified nine priority areas for evaluation, including labor rights compliance, environmental protection, climate change mitigation, and good governance, particularly in the fight against corruption and drug trafficking.

GSP+ is a special EU program designed to support vulnerable economies committed to sustainable development and effective governance. Participation grants countries preferential access to the EU market, provided they adhere to 27 international conventions on human rights, labor standards, environmental protection, and governance.

Uzbekistan became a GSP+ beneficiary in April 2021, joining a group of eight participating countries. Since then, the country has been actively working to fulfill its obligations, strengthening its international standing and trade relations with the EU.

The EU regularly conducts monitoring missions and dialogues with GSP+ beneficiaries to evaluate their compliance. During the current visit, the EU delegation aims not only to assess Uzbekistan’s progress but also to discuss further steps to enhance cooperation in key areas.

This visit underscores the importance of the Uzbekistan-EU partnership and the commitment of both sides to sustainable development and adherence to international standards.