A joint staff working document published by the EU Council on 16 July 2026 assesses the Kyrgyz Republic's compliance with GSP+ obligations for 2023-2025, finding progress on social rights and anti-corruption but serious concerns on human rights, labour rights, and shrinking civic space. The assessment warns that continued eligibility for the EU's Special Incentive Arrangement for Sustainable Development and Good Governance (GSP+) depends on reversing restrictions on civic space, media freedom, and human rights, and strengthening labour rights enforcement.
The Kyrgyz Republic has benefited from GSP+ since 2016. In 2024, nearly all its EU imports received duty-free treatment, but the GSP+ utilisation rate dropped from 61.2% in 2022 to 29.8% in 2024. The EU-Kyrgyzstan Enhanced Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (EPCA), signed on 25 June 2024, will complement GSP+ once applied; provisional application starts after Kyrgyzstan notifies completion of internal procedures.
Positive developments noted include a new Anti-corruption Strategy, lifted moratorium on unannounced labour inspections, strengthened legislation on domestic/sexual/gender-based violence (August 2024 amendments, October 2025 higher penalties), and an Action Plan for implementing UN child rights recommendations (2025-2028).
Serious concerns include the dissolution of the National Centre for the Prevention of Torture (NCPT) in mid-2025; restrictive laws on media (August 2025), religion (February 2025), extremism (July 2025), and 'Foreign Representatives' (April 2024); 114 criminal prosecutions against 112 individuals linked to freedom of expression (2022-2026); and the president's proposal to reinstate the death penalty in December 2025, which the Constitutional Court ruled unconstitutional in December 2025.
Key priorities for continued eligibility are enabling civic space and media freedom, torture prevention and criminal justice reform, empowering the Labour Inspectorate, and implementing anti-corruption plans.
EU importers and Kyrgyz exporters face potential loss of duty-free access if eligibility is revoked, increasing costs for textiles and agricultural goods. Kyrgyz civil society and media face continued repression, while the government risks trade sanctions. EU taxpayers benefit from conditionality promoting governance reforms. The European Commission and Council will monitor progress and may initiate withdrawal procedures if concerns persist.