52002XC0809(02)

Notice regarding the request submitted by the Republic of Uzbekistan in order to benefit from the special incentive arrangements for the protection of labour rights

(2002/C 189/03)

The Commission has received a request from the Republic of Uzbekistan under Article 15 of Council Regulation (EC) No 2501/2001 of 10 December 2001 applying a scheme of generalised tariff preferences for the period from 1 January 2002 to 31 December 2004(1) to benefit from the special incentive arrangements for the protection of labour rights.

These special incentive arrangements offer additional tariff preferences to countries which effectively implement the standards laid down by ILO conventions concerning forced labour, the freedom of association and the right to collective bargaining, non-discrimination in respect of employment and occupation, and the effective abolition of child labour.

The terms and conditions for requests for the special incentive arrangements are laid down in Title III of Regulation (EC) No 2501/2001.

According to Article 15(2) of that Regulation the request shall provide comprehensive information concerning:

- the national legislation referred to in Article 14(2), the measures taken to implement it and to monitor its application,

- any sectors in which that legislation is not applied.

By letter of 30 April 2002, the Republic of Uzbekistan provided the Commission information on the above.

Any observation concerning this request may be sent by any interested natural or legal person, within two months of the date of publication of this notice, to: European Commission Directorate-General for Trade

Unit C.3

Office CHAR 9/32 B - 1049 Brussels Fax (32-2) 295 63 54.

(1) OJ L 346, 31.12.2001, p. 1.