EU links Pakistan’s GSP+ access to progress on governance, labour, human rights

The European Union (EU) has said Pakistan’s continued preferential market access under the Generalised Scheme of Preferences Plus (GSP+) depends on progress in implementing international conventions, including those related to good governance, environmental protection, labour rights and human rights.

The matter was discussed on Monday during the eighth Pakistan-EU Strategic Dialogue in Islamabad, co-chaired by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar and Kaja Kallas, the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the European Commission.

Kallas briefed the Pakistani side on the EU’s new GSP+ regulation, while Pakistan expressed interest in joining the new GSP+ scheme.

Both sides agreed to continue working closely to meet the relevant conditions for the scheme.

The dialogue covered Pakistan-EU relations, including trade and investment, security cooperation, climate action, migration, sustainable development, regional connectivity and multilateral cooperation.

Both sides reaffirmed the importance of protecting and promoting human rights and fundamental freedoms in line with international obligations.

Speaking at a joint media briefing with Ishaq Dar, Kallas described Pakistan as a major regional power and an important partner of the EU.

She said the EU remained Pakistan’s largest export destination, larger than the United States and China combined.

Kallas said Pakistan was the world’s leading beneficiary of the EU’s GSP+ scheme and that continued preferential access to the EU market depended on progress on the international conventions underpinning the arrangement.

She said the EU was looking forward to Pakistan demonstrating tangible progress on good governance, environmental protection, labour rights and human rights.

Ishaq Dar said both sides reviewed progress under the Strategic Engagement Plan (SEP) 2019, which covers trade, investment, development, human rights and rule of law, migration and mobility, security and counterterrorism.

He said the EU was among Pakistan’s major trade partners, with total trade valued at €12 billion.

The Deputy Prime Minister said Pakistan-EU trade cooperation under GSP+ was a win-win model.

Kallas said Pakistan and the EU were expanding cooperation on climate resilience, digital infrastructure, clean energy, migration and mobility.

She said people-to-people ties were also an important part of the partnership.

Following the dialogue, Kallas also met Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. According to a statement from the Prime Minister’s Office, the prime minister expressed satisfaction over the outcome of the eighth round of the Pakistan-EU Strategic Dialogue and reiterated Pakistan’s commitment to expanding cooperation with the EU across multiple sectors.

PM Shehbaz said GSP+ remained a key pillar of Pakistan’s trade relationship with the European Union.

He said Pakistan wanted to further deepen its partnership with the EU in trade, investment, climate change, security, migration, sustainable development and regional connectivity.

Regional and international issues were also discussed during the meeting.

The prime minister thanked the EU leadership for supporting Pakistan’s diplomatic efforts aimed at promoting peace in the Gulf region.

He said Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) and Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir were playing an important role in these efforts.

He said the international community, including the EU, needed to work together for lasting peace in the region.

Kallas appreciated Pakistan’s role in regional peace efforts and expressed the EU’s interest in further strengthening strategic engagement with Islamabad.

She said Pakistan had been the main mediator between the United States and Iran and that these efforts had helped prevent a return to full-scale war on several occasions.

Kallas said there was now a diplomatic opening to extend the ceasefire and reopen the Strait of Hormuz, but any temporary arrangement should be followed by broader negotiations on Iran’s nuclear programme and other issues.

She said the EU was ready to contribute to a long-term settlement through its economic leverage, nuclear expertise, relationships across the Gulf and direct engagement with Iran.

PM Shehbaz also shared Pakistan’s perspective on security developments in South Asia and the situation in Afghanistan.

He conveyed his best wishes to European Council President António Costa and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, and reiterated invitations for both leaders to visit Pakistan.