6.8.2008 Official Journal of the European Union L211/1 (Acts adopted under the EC Treaty/Euratom Treaty whose publication is obligatory) REGULATIONS COUNCIL REGULATION (EC) No 732/2008 of 22 July 2008 applying a scheme of generalised tariff preferences for the period from 1 January 2009 to 31 December 2011 and amending Regulations (EC) No 552/97, (EC) No 1933/2006 and Commission Regulations (EC) No 1100/2006 and (EC) No 964/2007 THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Commu- nity, and in particular Article 133 thereof, to 2015, sets out the guidelines for the application of the scheme of generalised tariff preferences for the period 2006 to 2015. (4)  Council Regulation (EC) No 980/2005 (?) applies the scheme of generalised tariff preferences until 31 Decem- Having regard to the proposal from the Commission, ber 2008. Thereafter, the scheme should continue to apply until 31 December 2011, in accordance with the ) o ) guidelines. Having regard to the opinion of the European Parliament (1), (5)  The scheme of generalised tariff preferences (hereinafter Whereas: referred to as the scheme) should consist of a general arrangement, granted to all beneficiary countries and ter- i ) ritories, and two special arrangements taking account of (1) Since 1971, the Community has granted trade preferences the various development needs of countries in similar eco- to developing countries, in the framework of its scheme of nomic situations generalised tariff preferences. ' . i o (6)  The general arrangement should be granted to all those () The .Commu.mtys common .commeraal. polhcy is to be beneficiary countries which are not classified by the World consistent with and to consolidate the objectives of devel- Bank as high-income countries and which are not suffi- opment policy, in particular the eradication of poverty and ciently diversified in their exports. the promotion of sustainable development and good govern- ance in the developing countries. It is to comply with WTO requirements, and in particular with the GATT ‘enabling (7)  The special incentive arrangement for sustainable develop- clause’ of 1979 according to which WTO Members may ment and good governance is based on the integral con- accord differential and more favourable treatment to devel- cept of sustainable development, as recognised by oping countries. international conventions and instruments such as the 1986 UN Declaration on the Right to Development, the 1992 Rio Declaration on Environment and Development, (3 The Communication of 7 July 2004 from the Commission the 1998 ILO Declaration on Fundamental Principles and to the Council, the European Parliament and the European Economic and Social Committee, entitled ‘Developing countries, international trade and sustainable development: the function of the Community’s generalised system of preferences (GSP) for the 10-year period from 2006 Rights at Work, the 2000 UN Millennium Declaration, and the 2002 Johannesburg Declaration on Sustainable Development. (3) Council Regulation (EC) No 980/2005 of 27 June 2005 applying a scheme of generalised tariff preferences (OJ L 169, 30.6.2005, p. 1). Regulation as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 55/2008 (O] L 20, 24.1.2008, p. 1). (") Opinion delivered on 5 June 2008 following non-compulsory consul- tation (not yet published in the Official Journal).