Pakistan and the European Union (EU) have underlined the importance of further deepening trade and investment ties, including through the EU’s GSP+ scheme, as an engine of sustainable growth, export diversification, job creation and mutually beneficial economic opportunities, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (FO) said on Saturday.
The development took place when the seventh Strategic Dialogue between Pakistan and the EU was convened in Brussels. The meeting was co-chaired by the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ishaq Dar, and the head of EU diplomacy, Kaja Kallas.
The GSP+ status allows Pakistan to enjoy minimal or duty-free duties on European exports.
According to the FO, the meeting provided a “comprehensive review” of the entire spectrum of Pakistan-EU relations, “building on the positive momentum of recent high-level engagements and sustained institutional interactions.”
Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to a “broad-based, multidimensional and forward-looking partnership, based on shared values, the United Nations Charter, multilateralism and the principles of mutual respect and cooperation” during the meeting, he said.
“The dialogue also provided an opportunity to exchange views on regional and global developments, including South Asia, Afghanistan, the Middle East and broader geopolitical developments,” FO said.
“Both sides underlined the importance of coordinated approaches to peace, stability, sustainable development and global challenges such as climate change and connectivity,” he added.
Furthermore, Pakistan and the EU agreed to strengthen cooperation under the Strategic Engagement Plan, advance work on ongoing dialogues and identify concrete avenues to expand collaboration in the coming years, the FO said.
SPG+ status is a special incentive given to developing countries to “pursue sustainable development and good governance” in exchange for reducing import duties on two-thirds of their export tariff lines to zero. Governments with this status need to implement 27 international conventions on human rights, labor rights, good governance and the environment.
Earlier this week, EU ambassador to Pakistan Raimundas Karoblis said the country needed to “do more” in terms of meeting its commitments under the GSP+ scheme ahead of a review.
