EU Council chief backs Pakistan’s peace initiatives

ISLAMABAD:European Union (EU) Council President António Costa voiced support for Pakistan’s peace initiatives on Monday and reaffirmed the bloc’s backing of diplomatic efforts aimed at restoring stability in the Middle East.

According to a statement issued by the Prime Minister’s Office, Costa spoke by telephone with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, with both leaders discussing the ongoing hostilities in the region and exchanging views on Pakistan-EU relations.

“Both leaders expressed deep concern over the ongoing hostilities in Iran and the Gulf countries, and their impact on the global economy,” a statement from the Prime Minister’s Office said. They stressed the need to resolve the crisis through dialogue and diplomacy.

Sharif briefed Costa on Pakistan’s ongoing mediation efforts to de-escalate the crisis, which the EU Council President welcomed and supported.

During the call, the prime minister also highlighted the significance of the EU’s Generalised Scheme of Preferences Plus (GSP Plus) for Pakistan and announced that the first-ever Pakistan-EU Business Forum will be held in Islamabad on April 28-29, 2026.

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Sharif underlined Pakistan’s commitment to strengthening ties with the EU, noting that a visit to Brussels originally scheduled for last month had been postponed. Costa expressed hope to welcome Sharif to Brussels at a mutually convenient date.

The prime minister also conveyed his good wishes to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.

Sharif later posted on X that he and Costa agreed that dialogue and diplomacy must prevail to restore regional peace and stability, and reaffirmed the EU’s support for Pakistan’s mediation efforts.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2026