Pakistan and European Union have agreed on a new 'Pakistan-EU Strategic Engagement Plan' to be signed formally later in Brussels, which is aimed at broadening and deepening cooperation in diverse fields including trade and investment.
This was agreed in the fourth round of Strategic Dialogue between Pakistan and European Union held here in which Pakistan's side was led by Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi and the EU by High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini.
"We have finally agreed on a new strategic engagement plan. That is our real 'plus' from the discussion we have had today," Qureshi said while speaking at a joint news conference to the state media along with Mogherini who arrived on Monday for the dialogue.
The foreign minister expressed the confidence that once the procedures are fulfilled on the EU side, he would be heading to Brussels to formally sign the new 'Pakistan-EU Strategic Engagement Plan.' He said that the plan will lay foundation of a 'bright' future between Pakistan and the EU.
He said that the two sides held discussions on bilateral issues and on the ways and means how Pakistan and EU can further broaden and deepen bilateral relations. To this end, he said that the two sides discussed trade and investment, political side of the relationship, security and defence, democracy, governance, status of human rights and issues of immigration.
"I was pleasantly surprised when I looked at the framework of new engagement plan and the agenda of PTI. There is so much similarity on the way the Europeans think and what we intend to do as a government to help alleviate poverty, to fix institutions, eradicate corruption and have across the board accountability," he said.
Qureshi said that he also shared with the visiting High Representative Pakistan's point of view and the steps taken vis-à-vis Financial Action Task Force (FATF) on how the country intends to fulfil its obligations and political commitments made with the international community.
He said that he also appraised the EU delegation of the evolution of the National Action Plan (NAP), adding she was informed about the way Pakistani nation responded to December 16, 2014 terrorist attack on Army Public School in Peshawar followed by the actions undertaken by Pakistan armed forces to cleanse the tribal belt of the terrorists.
Qureshi said that the two sides also exchanged views on the status of international non-governmental organisations (INGOs) and shared with the High Representative the initiative taken by Pakistan.
"I also shared with her how German political foundations, through negotiations, have now been incorporated and have been registered and how 75 INGOs are already registered and are, now, working in Pakistan and we are working on others as well," he added.
The foreign minister said that the two sides also had 'very good' discussions on Afghanistan, adding that the EU has been a great contributor to Afghanistan's reforms and reconstruction agenda and like Pakistan, the EU also has a stake in the peace and stability in the war-torn country.
"We shared [with the EU side] Pakistan's perspective and our role as facilitator in the peace and reconciliation process," he said, adding that the EU delegation shared Pakistan's concern for peace and stability in that country and also appreciated Pakistan's role in the Afghan reconciliation process.
On India, Qureshi said that he also gave the EU delegation an overview of Pakistan's openness to engage with India for resolving all outstanding disputes through a sustained dialogue 'because it is the only sensible way forward.'
He said that both the sides are convinced that there is no other solution to the issues between India and Pakistan, but to talk. "Can two atomic [nuclear] neighbours even think of going to war? It is madness," he said, adding that Pakistan has demonstrated restraint with a measured response immediately after the country was aggressed upon.
To de-escalate the tension, he said that Pakistan took various steps including the immediate release of captured Indian pilot, sending back Pakistani high commissioner to New Delhi and re-establishing the hotline between the director generals of military operations of two countries. "The world is not oblivious to the steps that we took for the de-escalation of the tensions," he added.
He said that he also shared with the EU delegation about the desire of the government to open up the country for foreign tourists, liberalisation of the visas and the imitative of Kartarpur corridor.
He said that the two sides also discussed Iran, adding that the EU has a different perspective from the US about Iran. "So, we discussed the Iranian situation and how Iran is important for Pakistan, being our neighbour and how important it is to achieve peace and stability in Pakistan," he added.
He said trade between Pakistan and the European Union has doubled after grant of GSP Plus status to Pakistan in 2013.
He said the present government is keen to enhance exports to Europe and fix the trade deficit issue, besides creating more jobs for Pakistanis through trade with Europe.
Qureshi also reiterated Pakistan's concern on growing Islamophobia in the West, adding that it is of the great concerns not only for the Muslims countries but also for the EU as well.
The High Representative of the EU Mogherini said that it was the fourth round of the strategic dialogue between Pakistan and the EU, but an 'exceptional one' as the two sides agreed on the new strategic engagement plan.
"That [plan] gives us a newer [and] more solid foundation for our partnership, expands the areas of cooperation, puts no limits in terms of timing, and I am sure [it] will constitute, as you said, a sound architecture for EU-Pakistan relations and cooperation in the years to come," she said, adding, "I am very much looking forward to welcoming you in Brussels for the signature on this Plan finalised today."
She said that the two sides held a 'very fruitful' discussion on variety of topics including on how important the partnership is for both the sides, the priorities of the governments, poverty alleviation, direct investment, good governance, fight against corruption and 'how much we converge together on this fact.'
Mogherini pointed out that trade between Pakistan and the EU has been doubled over the last few years and 'the EU is now the first export market for Pakistan.' "Thanks to the preferential access to the European Union's market that Pakistan has been enjoying since 2014... this preferential access to our markets is linked to the fact that the exports of Pakistan to the EU have been doubled," she said.
This, she stated, is linked to the implementation of certain number of international conventions, adding that the two sides also discussed the implementation of these convention, mainly linked to human rights, freedom of religious beliefs, freedom of expression and the situation of women and civil society, Pakistan is required to have. "We have a good discussion and I noticed the strong political commitment of the [foreign] minister and of this government," she added.
On the issue of immigration and refugees, she said that there is already an agreement in place between the two sides and both the sides agreed to intensify the common work to implement it efficiently. She said that it also aimed at supporting Pakistan on the issue of Afghan refugees.
She said Afghanistan is one of the common issues, which was also discussed and there is common support for the Afghan peace process. "We have discussed ways in which the EU and Pakistan can effectively encourage and accompany the process of talks that could eventually bring peace in Afghanistan," she added.
She also appreciated Pakistan's steps towards de-escalating tension with India and the measures to address the challenge of terrorist activities. "I expressed all our support in trying to make this crackdown on terrorists and militant groups as effective as possible for the sake of regional security and for the sake of Pakistan itself," she added.
She also expressed condolences and the sympathies with the victim families of New Zealand terror attack.
To a question, she said that the rising Islamophobia is of equally concerns for the EU. "This [Islamophobia] is a threat not only for Muslims but also to our society," she said, adding that for this reason, the EU was represented on the recently held OIC meeting in Istanbul.
She said that it is a priority that Islamophobia does not find any place in any EU country, adding the EU is willing to cooperate with the stakeholders including the OIC.
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