European Union outlines new GSP+ terms

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and the European Union (EU) emphasized the importance of strong economic relations, reaffirming their commitment to continuing cooperation under the Generalised Scheme of Preferences Plus (GSP+) framework.

Kaja Kallas, the High Representative (HR) for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy of the European Union, who is visiting Pakistan, briefed the Pakistani side about the EU’s new GSP+ regulation. Pakistan expressed its keen interest in joining the new scheme of GSP Plus. Both sides agreed to continue working closely to fulfil the relevant conditions in this regard.

Both sides also reaffirmed the importance of the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms, as enshrined in international obligations.

The EU diplomat called Pakistan a major regional power and an important partner of the EU as the two sides held a strategic dialogue in Islamabad on Monday. Kallas remarked that the EU remained “by far Pakistan’s largest export destination”, adding that it was larger than the United States and China combined. She further highlighted that the EU is looking forward to Pakistan demonstrating tangible progress on these issues.

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister (DPM/FM) Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar and Ms. Kaja Kallas co-chaired the 8th Pakistan-EU Strategic Dialogue here at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA).

The two sides held comprehensive discussions on Pakistan-EU relations, including trade and investment, security cooperation, climate action, migration, and multilateral cooperation.

The Dialogue reaffirmed the shared commitment of Pakistan and the European Union to further deepen the engagement and expand their mutually beneficial partnership across diverse areas.

Speaking ata joint media briefing along with DPM/FM Ishaq Dar, the EU’s diplomat stated that Pakistan is a major regional power and an important partner for the European Union. “Today, we acknowledged our shared commitment to strengthening EU-Pakistan ties even further,” she added.

The EU official noted that her visit came at an “important moment”, adding that the “world and this region have experienced profound changes” since the two sides met in November last year.

Kallas further added that Pakistan was the “world’s leading beneficiary” of the EU’s GSP+ scheme, seeking progress on GSP+ with certain clear conditions. ‘’Continued preferential access to the EU market depends on progress in implementing the international conventions underpinning the scheme.

The EU’s HR sought improvements on good governance, environmental protection, and particularly, labour and human rights,’’ she emphatically said.

She was of the view that Pakistan and the EU were cementing cooperation on a wide range of issues, including climate resilience, digital infrastructure, clean energy, migration, and mobility. She remarked that people-to-people links were also an “important part” of the partnership.

Pakistan has been the main mediator between the United States and Iran,” stressing that these efforts “have helped to prevent a return to full-blown war on several occasions”.

The EU recognized Pakistan’s intermediary efforts.

Kallas said there was now “a tenuous diplomatic opening to extend the ceasefire and reopen the Strait of Hormuz,” but stressed that any temporary understanding must be followed by broader negotiations on Iran’s nuclear programme and other key issues. She also said that the EU is ready to contribute to a long-term settlement, citing its “economic leverage, hard-won nuclear expertise, long-standing relationships across the Gulf and direct engagement with Iran.”

Ishaq Dar said in the discussion, both sides assessed the progress achieved in their cooperation in the context of the SEP 2019, which encompassed different sectors like trade, investment, development, human rights and rule of law, migration and mobility, and security and counterterrorism.

In addition, he mentioned that Pakistan’s trade partners include the EU, with the total trade value of €12 billion.

The Deputy Prime Minister observed that “Pakistan-EU trade cooperation under GSP+ is a win-win model.”

Copyright Business Recorder, 2026