ISLAMABAD: Pakistan sees the arrival of European Union High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy/Vice-President of the European Commission, Kaja Kallas, on Monday, which “underscores the sustained momentum of high-level political exchanges between Pakistan and the EU and reflects a shared commitment to further strengthening the Pakistan-EU partnership”.
Kallas arrives on a one-day visit which is scheduled around her and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar co-chairing the 8th Session of Pakistan-EU Strategic Dialogue.
“The Dialogue is the highest-level platform for structured discussions between the two sides. Pakistan deeply values its long-standing, multidimensional partnership with the European Union, which is anchored in shared values, robust economic cooperation and a mutual commitment to multilateralism,” the Foreign Office said while confirming the visit, which was announced by the European Union on Saturday.
Earlier, the 7th Round of EU-Pakistan Dialogue was held in Brussels in November last year, where apart from bilateral relations, cooperation in the framework of EU-Pakistan Strategic Engagement Plan from 2019 was reviewed.
The Foreign Office added that Ms Kallas was also scheduled to call on the senior leadership, including the prime minister and the president. The EU, meanwhile, confirmed that the EU vice president would also meet with Chief of Defence Forces Field Marshal Asim Munir besides holding a joint press conference with the foreign minister.
According to diplomatic sources, both sides will take up the Generalised Scheme of Preferences (GSP+) during Monday’s discussions, which has always remained one of the key elements of the bilateral relationship.
Pakistan’s GSP+ commitments require the effective implementation of 27 core international conventions covering protection of human rights, labour standards, environmental protection, free media, end to enforced disappearances and good governance. In exchange for zero-tariff access on two-thirds of its EU export lines, Pakistan is legally bound to international scrutiny and must submit to regular EU monitoring.
On the international front, the diplomatic sources point out, Pakistan’s role as a mediator between Iran and the US, Ukraine, Kashmir and Afghanistan with special emphasis on eradicating terrorism will be a part of the discussions.
