eu news from sri lanka & the...

EU News

from

Sri Lanka & the Maldives

July - September 2011

IN THIS ISSUE

� EU Switch-Asia project – greening Sri Lanka's hotel sector

� EU proposes new GSP scheme as of 2014

� Consular protection for EU citizens

� EU's Food Facility programme success

stories

� Construction of a Surgical Ward at Valachchenai Base Hospital

� European Instrument for Democracy and Human Rights – Call for proposals

� ECCSL opens new Eastern Chapter

EU Delegation Sri Lanka, Press Office:

Tel: (+94-11) 267 4413 ext. 103

Email: delegation-sri-lanka-press-and-

[email protected] Website: http://eeas.europa.eu/delegations/sri_lanka

of 6 Delegation Sri Lanka

EU Switch-Asia Projects – greening Sri Lanka's hotel sector

The Greening Sri Lanka Hotels Project under the EU funded SWITCH-Asia

Programme aims at enhancing the environmental performance of Sri

Lankan hotels through improvement of energy, water and waste

management, thereby reducing their cost of operations and increasing

the market acceptance of Sri Lankan hotels internationally by promoting

them as low carbon foot print green hotels.

This European Union funded project, implemented by the Ceylon

Chamber of Commerce, has now engaged more hoteliers, from both the

SME and larger sectors, in the west coast, southern and deep south

regions, cultural triangle, central and hill country and to the east, in

preliminary awareness programmes.

Subsequent to these preliminary awareness/promotional seminars,

signing-up of hotels for the project, the conducting of training workshops

and walk through audits of individual hotels have now commenced.

These audits highlight major areas where quick interventions can be

undertaken by the hotels to improve energy and water consumption

patterns and waste management. A total of 135 hotels have signed up

for ongoing activities, and more than 60 walk through audits have so far

been completed.

In addition, another 11 hotels have been short listed for in-depth study

and interventions, out of which preliminary work has been completed in

six hotels. One-on-one discussions are already underway with the

respective owners/CEOs of the respective hotels to start implementing

the initiatives.

Indicatively, the following results could be expected from these hotels.

• Electricity –Annual saving of 325,000 kWh (Avg saving of 12.8%)

• Gas – Annual saving of 8,400 kg (Avg 18%)

• Diesel – 936 ltr. annually (Avg 10%)

However, with tourism booming in Sri Lanka, most hoteliers for the first

time after many years of ‘survival’ are beginning to make profits. In this

context, the project is finding it difficult to motivate hoteliers to

participate in the program, since they are preoccupied with other issues

of maximizing revenue and profits and do not find energy and

environment management a priority.

A useful handbook for sustainable practices for hoteliers titled ‘Good

Practice Guidelines on Environmental Management for Sri Lankan

Hoteliers’ has been printed and will be distributed among all tourist

hotels in Sri Lanka.

An “Eco-Vendor Meet Mart” was organized in conjunction with the Tourist

Hotels Association of Sri Lanka where a cross section of vendors of

products and services which help conserve energy, water and the

management of waste, were brought together with a large number of

hoteliers.

While working on the outreach programs in different localities, there have

been requests for the project to conduct individual environmental

programs for schools, especially in the East. The project team has readily

obliged, since it did not in any way burden the project, while at the same

time it was considered an important laudable peripheral service that was

being undertaken.

The project won the award for the Best Project Presentation at the EU

SWITCH-Asia Sub-regional Networking Event held in Colombo in June

2011 and is now invited to present Sri Lanka’s case at the next Rio Earth

Summit scheduled to be held in 2012.


EU proposes new GSP Scheme as of 2014

The European Commission plans to concentrate its import preferences on those developing countries

most in need. It will limit its Generalised System of Preferences (GSP), with which it grants specific

tariff preferences to developing countries in the form of reduced or zero tariff rates or quotas, to

approximately 80 countries due to the emergence of more advanced developing countries which are

now globally competitive. At the same, time the Commission seeks to encourage more countries to

respect core international conventions on human rights, labour standards, environment and good

governance in the GSP+ scheme which grants additional trade concessions to vulnerable countries.

Since 1971, the EU has granted trade preferences to developing countries in the framework of its

Generalised System of Preferences (GSP). The GSP has been implemented through successive

regulations with periods of application of three years at a time. The current scheme was established as

from 1 January 2009 and was meant to end on 31 December 2011. However, in May 2011, the EU

announced the extension of the current GSP scheme until the end of 2013.

Key elements of the proposal include:

Concentrating GSP preferences on fewer countries.

Whilst the generous product coverage and preference margins would remain unchanged, a number of

countries would no longer be eligible to benefit, including:

- Countries which have achieved a high or upper middle income per capita status, according to the

internationally accepted World Bank classification.

- Countries that have preferential access to the EU, for example, under a Free Trade Agreement or a

special autonomous trade regime.

- EU overseas countries and territories which have an alternative market access arrangement for

developed markets.

The final list of beneficiary countries will be identified at the end of the current GSP term based on data

from the last three years.

Reinforcing the incentives for the respect of human and labour rights, environmental and

good governance standards through trade by facilitating access to the GSP+ scheme which grants

additional, mostly duty-free preference to vulnerable countries.

- The vulnerability criterion in the GSP+ will be widened to allow more countries to benefit.

- Countries will be able to apply for GSP+ at any time, instead of once every 1.5 years.

- GSP+ applicant countries have to commit to effective and full cooperation with international

organisations by respecting the international conventions on human and labour rights. The burden of

proof for the implementation of international conventions will now be with the countries concerned.

Strengthen the effectiveness of the trade concessions for Least Developed Countries (LDCs)

through the "Everything but Arms" scheme. Reducing GSP to fewer beneficiaries will reduce competitive

pressure and make the preferences for LDCs more meaningful.

Increasing predictability, transparency and stability.

The system will become open-ended, while it is currently subject to review every three years. This will

make it easier and more attractive for EU importers to purchase from GSP beneficiary countries.

Further, procedures will become more transparent, with clear, better defined legal principles and

objective criteria.

This new proposal was approved on 31 May 2011 and will be implemented as from 2014.


Consular Protection for EU Citizens

What happens to an EU citizen in a country outside the EU where there is no embassy or

consulate of his/her own EU country? He/she is entitled to request the consular protection of any

other EU country under the same conditions as the nationals of that country. Moreover, measures are

being taken to further reinforce consular protection for EU citizens.

Eligibility for consular protection if citizen is:

� a national of an EU Member State

� in distress in a country outside the EU where the citizens country does not have an

embassy/consulate

Typical situations where help is needed:

� passport lost or stolen

� serious accident or illness

� violent crime

� arrest or detention

� emergency relief / repatriation (natural disasters, civil unrest, armed conflict or other

emergencies)

� death while abroad

All assistance and notification of relatives, friends, doctor and/or employer at home will be handled by

the embassy/consulate approached, through the persons own country's foreign ministry.

For more information on EU consular protection visit: http://ec.europa.eu/consularprotection/index.action

European Film Festival 2011

The European Film Festival will once again captivate Colombo audiences from 1 – 10 October 2011.

The European Union together with EU member states and cultural centres in Colombo will feature some

of Europe's finest contemporary films aimed to please the most die-hard film buff! This year's festival

as with previous years will travel to Galle, Kandy and Jaffna during the months of November and

December.

Look out for more details in the coming weeks on the official film festival website for film schedules,

synopsis and locations. www.europeanfilmfestsrilanka.com


European Union's Food Facility Programme

Saraswathi with her chickens

Rasaiya Ramanathan

Through the EU's Food Facility Programme…

K. Saraswathi is 69 years old and lives alone in a temporary shelter in

Rajapuram village located in the Chenkalady DS division of the Batticaloa

District.

She was born in Badulla and came to the Rajapuram village 35 years ago,

where she lived happily with her husband and four children. With the death

of her husband she was forced to work as a casual laborer on a government

farm. Due to an accident where she suffered from a leg injury she was

unable to work and therefore lost her job.

As with many others she was forced to leave her village due to the civil war.

On returning to her village she found her home destroyed with nothing left

to survive on as all her belonging had been stolen during her period of

absence. Saraswathi now lives in a temporary shelter as she is unable and

has no resources to rebuild her lost home.

Through the European Union funded Food Facility programme implemented

through the FAO Saraswathi has been provided the means for a better

future. The project provided her with 15 chickens, 10 female and 5 male

birds to start her own backyard poultry business. As she had previous

experience in rearing chickens her small enterprise has blossomed. With the

impending egg sales she will finally be able to lift her head and be self

sufficient and not have to depend on the meager support she has been

receiving from her children.

Under the European Union – Food Facility (EU_FF) programme implemented

through the FAO in the Vadamuani Village in the Kiran DS Division

concentrated on both tank and land rehabilitation work. Clearing of

overgrown vegetation, repairing damaged canals, formation of tank bunds

and leveling of paddy lands were some of the activities undertaken during

this project.

Rasaiya Ramanathan who over the past 20 years faced much hardship due

to displacement has finally been provided a means to rebuild his life through

this programme. Rasaiya received 6 bushels of seed paddy and fertilizer to

start cultivation during the Maha season of 2010. Rasaiya is still quite

energetic and although his crops were badly affected due to the recent

flooding he was able to harvest 30 bags (1,800kg) of paddy.

In addition to the paddy farming, his wife runs a small boutique, which

contributes towards their financial needs.

From the previous harvest Rasaiya had managed to reserve 5 bags of paddy

for his home consumption, which will until the next harvest meet his families

demand for rice. With the income he generated through the last harvest

Rasaiya purchased a two wheel tractor which will aid him plough the fields

more sufficiently during the upcoming seasons.

AIDEX Sports Day 2011

For the sixth consecutive year the European Union will support the AIDEX Sports Day for Jaipur

Limb Users. This sports festival organised by the Colombo Friend-in-Need Society (CFINS) encourages

differently-abled athletes to showcase their incredible talents through events such as cycling, archery, and

track and field.

Participants range from 8 to 80 years, but whatever their age prove to have the strength and

determination of any seasoned athlete. The European Union encourages all the be apart of this opportunity

to support these amazing athletes courage to push past their disabilities and pursue their dreams.

This years AIDEX Sports Day will be held on 16th October at the Reid Avenue, Race Course Grounds from

8.00am to 5.00pm.

For more information on the event and the Jaipur Limb programme contact: CFINS – 011 2544 992/ [email protected]


Construction of a Surgical Ward at the Valachchenai Base Hospital

European Instrument for Democracy and Human Rights (EIDHR) – Call for Proposals

The European Union is seeking proposals for strengthening the role of civil society in promoting human

rights and democratic reform in Sri Lanka with financial assistance from the European Instrument for

Democracy and Human Rights (EIDHR).

The full Guidelines for Applicants are available for consultation at Delegation of the European Union to

Sri Lanka and the Maldives (26, Sir Marcus Fernando Mawatha, Colombo 7, Sri Lanka) and on the

following internet site: https://webgate.ec.europa.eu/europeaid/online-

services/index.cfm?do=publi.welcome .

The deadline for submission of proposals is 30 September 2011, at 12:00 hours Colombo local time.

European Chamber of Commerce in Sri Lanka opens new Eastern Chapter

Delegation of the European Union to Sri Lanka & the Maldives

26, Sir Marcus Fernando Mawatha, Colombo 7, Sri Lanka

Website: http://eeas.europa.eu/delegations/sri_lanka

The European Union together with the German Red Cross have undertaken

yet another project to uplift the lives of the people in the Batticaloa District.

EU funding will aid in reconstructing health facilities of the district though the

construction of a new surgical ward at the Valachchenai Base Hospital.

The foundation stone laying ceremony was held recently for the new surgical

ward with the presence of Mr. M. S. Zubair, Hon Minister of Health, Eastern

Provincial Council and other dignitaries.

The base hospital in Valachchenai is an essential health service to the district

and the improvement of this facility will assist the many communities to

benefit from the improvement.

This activity is part of the European Union's funding towards the project

implemented by German Red Cross Programme of LKR 356 million (€ 2.3

million) within the overall European Union Assistance to Conflict Affected

People programme (EU/ACAP).

On the 30th of August 2011, the European Chamber of Commerce in Sri

Lanka (ECCSL) began a new chapter with the official launch of their office in

the Eastern Province. A traditional ceremony was held in Trincomalee with

the office being opened by Honourable Minister Susantha Punchinilame,

Deputy Minister of Fisheries and Aquatic resources. Other key dignitaries at

the event were the Governor of the Eastern Province; Hon. Rear Admiral

(retd) Mr. Mohan Wijeywickrama, Mr. Jaco Beerens – First Secretary of the

Dutch Embassy in Sri Lanka and representative of Sri Lanka Export

Development Board Mr. Prasanna Jayasinghe.

The ECCSL was established in Colombo in 1996 with the aim of promoting

business and economic relations between Sri Lanka and the 27 Member

countries of the EU. As the sole promoter of trade and investment between

Europe and Sri Lanka it was essential to expand the facilities by establishing

offices in the East, North and South of the country. The launch of the

Eastern chapter is therefore the beginning of this initiative.

In the coming months the ECCSL Eastern Chapter hopes to create links with

the business communities of the East through workshops, seminars,

awareness programmes on the EU, sector capacity building initiatives, trade

fairs and business delegations.

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