ISLAMABAD: Trade and investment through the GSP+ (Generalised Scheme of Preferences Plus) arrangement appear to be two of the key areas which will be the driving force for future relations between Pakistan and the European Union (EU).
This understanding was arrived at during the 7th Strategic Dialogue between Pakistan and the EU on Saturday in Brussels and was co-chaired by Deputy Prime Minister/ Foreign Minister (DPM/FM) Ishaq Dar and EU High Representative/ Vice President Kaja Kallas.
Of significance is the fact that the GSP+ Monitoring Mission is expected to arrive in Pakistan in the last quarter of this year. Earlier, the visit of the mission was postponed due to the conflict in the Middle East.
GSP+ allows Pakistan to benefit from duty-free or minimum duty on European exports.
The mission, like in the past, will examine Pakistan’s compliance in areas including human rights, minority protections, death penalty, blasphemy laws, enforced disappearances, women rights, child labour, forced labour, etc.
In a television interview earlier this week, the European Union (EU) Ambassador to Pakistan Raimundas Karoblis said that Pakistan needed to “do more” in terms of fulfilling its commitments under the Generalised Scheme of Preferences Plus (GSP+) ahead of a review.
Giving details about the Dar-Kallas meeting, the Foreign Office in a statement said that the meeting provided a comprehensive review of full spectrum of Pakistan-EU relations, building on the positive momentum of recent high-level engagements and sustained institutional interactions.
Diplomatic sources told ‘The News’ that a joint statement about the strategic dialogue is expected to be also issued.
“They underlined the importance of further deepening trade and investment ties, including through the EU’s GSP+ arrangement, as a driver for sustainable growth, export diversification, job creation and mutually beneficial economic opportunity,” said the Foreign Office.
The dialogue appears to have made some headway as both the sides agreed to strengthen cooperation under the Strategic Engagement Plan (SEP 2019), advance work on ongoing dialogues and identify concrete avenues to expand collaboration in the years ahead.
Besides trade and investment, the Strategic Dialogue also offered an opportunity to exchange views on regional and global developments, including South Asia, Afghanistan, the Middle East and broader geopolitical developments.
“Both the sides underlined the importance of coordinated approaches to peace, stability, sustainable development and global challenges such as climate change and connectivity,” added the Foreign Office.
