The European Union’s Generalized Scheme of Preferences Plus (GSP+) regulation grants beneficiary countries non-reciprocal preferential market access on the condition of ratification and implementation of twenty-seven international conventions which cover a range of policy issues including human rights, labour rights, environmental protection and good governance. Doubts have been raised on the scheme’s efficacy. To analyse whether the scheme can foster the implementation of these conventions, this article attempts to quantify compliance with these conventions by creating a GSP+ Compliance Index. The article presents the results of two variations of the index: a ‘comprehensive index’ which aims to cover as many conventions as possible and a more ‘selective index’ with higher validity. The comprehensive scenario provides scores for all current GSP+ beneficiary countries (Armenia, Bolivia, Cape Verde, Georgia, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Pakistan, Paraguay, Philippines, Sri Lanka). The selective scenario provides information on all current beneficiary countries, except for Cape Verde and Kyrgyzstan. Based on the newly created index, we find arguments for an effective GSP+ conditionality, especially after the reform of the GSP regulation, and the inclusion of good governance in trade policy.