Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2021/2127 of 29 September 2021 amending Annex IV to Regulation (EU) No 978/2012 of the European Parliament and of the Council applying a scheme of generalised tariff preferences
Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2021/2127of 29 September 2021amending Annex IV to Regulation (EU) No 978/2012 of the European Parliament and of the Council applying a scheme of generalised tariff preferencesTHE EUROPEAN COMMISSION,Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,Having regard to Regulation (EU) No 978/2012 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 25 October 2012 applying a scheme of generalised tariff preferences and repealing Council Regulation (EC) No 732/2008OJ L 303, 31.10.2012, p. 1., and in particular Article 17(2) thereof,Whereas:(1)Pursuant to Article 17(1) of Regulation (EU) No 978/2012, a country which is identified by the United Nations ("UN") as a least-developed country should benefit from the tariff preferences provided under the special arrangement Everything But Arms ("EBA") for the least-developed countries. The list of EBA beneficiary countries is established in Annex IV to Regulation (EU) No 978/2012.(2)The UN graduated Vanuatu from the least-developed country category on 4 December 2020. Therefore, Vanuatu no longer qualifies for EBA beneficiary status under Article 17(1) of Regulation (EU) No 978/2012 and should be removed from Annex IV to that Regulation. In accordance with Article 17(2) of Regulation (EU) No 978/2012, the removal of Vanuatu from the list of EBA beneficiary countries should apply following a transitional period of 3 years as from the date on which that Regulation enters into force. Vanuatu should, therefore, be removed from Annex IV, with application from 1 January 2025,HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION: