25 Years of Everything But Arms: International Partnerships Through Trade

• Date: Wednesday 4 November 2026, 13:00-17:30 (CET)
• Location: Hybrid – in the Alcide de Gasperi room, Charlemagne Building, European Commission; and online 

Why is this important?

For 25 years, the EU’s Everything But Arms (EBA) arrangement has provided Least Developed Countries with duty-free and quota-free access to the EU market for all products except arms and ammunition. From 1 January 2027, the revised EU Generalised Scheme of Preferences (GSP) will renew the EU’s preferential trade framework and give a fresh boost to EBA for Least Developed Countries.

Join us in Brussels to reflect on and celebrate 25 years of EBA, explore what the new GSP means for the future, and discuss how EU trade preferences can continue to support trade, investment, sustainable development, job creation and stronger international partnerships.

The event will bring together representatives of the EU and partner countries, international and regional organisations, businesses, social partners, civil society, academia and other stakeholders.

What will be discussed?

• The contribution of EBA over the past 25 years and the celebration of the new GSP;
• GSP and EBA in a changing geopolitical and geoeconomic environment;
• Trade, investment, poverty reduction benefits of GSP and its aspects of sustainable development;
• Business opportunities for exporters, investors and SMEs in partner countries and Europe;
• Opportunities for women-owned and women-managed businesses, and; 
• How the scheme links with the EU's Global Gateway, and with the EU’s Economic Partnership Agreements.

How do I register for the event?

Register via the button below. 

Access details

The conference will take place in person in Brussels. In-person participants are encouraged to arrive in good time for the security screening process. Registration and security checks will open at 12:30, followed by an informal networking reception from 13:00 to 14:00. The conference programme starts at 14:00.

There will be a welcome desk in the security screening area of the Charlemagne building, where identification documents will be checked for security clearance and badges will be issued.

Access code will be sent to registered in-person participants. Please bring your access confirmation/V-PASS and the same identification document provided during registration.

Registration details and livestream link for online audience abroad will follow nearer the date of the event. 

Programme overview

The programme combines high-level remarks, including from Maroš Šefčovič (European Commissioner for Trade and Economic Security), Bernd Lange (Member of the European Parliament and chair of the European Parliament’s Committee on International Trade) and Francisca Tatchouop Belobe (African Union Commissioner), beneficiary-country perspectives, and two panel discussions. Participants in Brussels and online audience abroad will be able to join the panel discussions.

The programme below is indicative. Speakers are being confirmed and this section will be updated.

Registration 

Participation is free of charge, but registration is required. Places for in-person participation in the Charlemagne building are limited.