ISLAMABAD: The European Union (EU) on Monday pressed Pakistan to demonstrate measurable progress on human and labour rights and governance reforms as the two sides discussed Islamabad’s eventual transition to the bloc’s new GSP+ trade regime, which will require fresh and potentially stricter compliance commitments beyond 2027.
The issue figured prominently during the eighth Pakistan-EU Strategic Dialogue, where EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and European Commission Vice-President Kaja Kallas underlined that continued preferential access to the European market would remain tied to implementation of international conventions covering human rights, labour standards, environmental protection and good governance.
Co-chaired by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar and Ms Kallas, the dialogue is the highest level institutionalised platform for political engagement between Pakistan and the EU under the 2019 Strategic Engagement Plan, covering cooperation in trade, investment, governance, security, migration, climate and regional affairs.
The EU top diplomat also called on Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. The PM expressed satisfaction at the 8th round of the EU-Pakistan Strategic Dialogue and told the European delegation that Pakistan was keen to further strengthen the multifaceted partnership. He also reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to enhancing cooperation with the EU in trade and investment, climate change, security, migration, sustainable development, and connectivity.
