The European Union is willing to support plans for a South Asian Free Trade Area (Safta) by 2006, including some possible financial assistance.
Details will be discussed in the coming visit of Chris Patten, Commissioner for External Relations, on February 18 to sign an agreement financing a Euro 5 million co-operation programme on trade-related technical assistance for Pakistan.
The agreement will be signed for Pakistan by Commerce Minister Humayun Akhtar.
Chris would be leading a delegation including Irish Minister of Foreign Affairs Brain Cowen and Dutch Minister for Foreign Affairs Dr Bernard R Bot. The political dialogue is expected to concentrate on bilateral relations, regional issues and international concerns.
The delegation will be visiting India, Afghanistan and Pakistan (February 16-19) for a series of meetings.
The EU will be supporting rapprochement, and new proposals for regional integration.
The EU ministerial Troika meetings in Afghanistan comes just weeks before the Berlin International Conference, which will review the political and financial challenges facing Afghanistan. The EU is a major donor for Afghanistan reconstruction and will, once again, make clear its long-term commitment.
On Wednesday, February 18, the delegation will meet Foreign Minister Mehmood Kasuri. Likely topics on the agenda will be recent domestic political developments, improving relations with India, recent successful Saarc summit, other regional issues including Afghanistan, counter-terrorism and international security, including recent reports about nuclear proliferation activities.
The EU regards its relationship with Pakistan as very important, not only because of bilateral interests but also because of the contribution that Pakistan can make to the welfare and stability of the South Asia region, says a EU press release.
The EU relationship with Pakistan is conducted through a Co-operation Agreement dating back to 1986. Political dialogue has been upgraded, contacts have intensified, and the EU is willing to consider more frequent meetings.
The EU has proposed Euro 71 million in development assistance for Pakistan in the years 2003-05, focussed on education, fostering the trade and business environment, fighting child labour and rehabilitation of drug users.
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