In meeting with top EU officials, PM Shehbaz reiterates commitment to continued engagement under GSP+
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to continued engagement with the GSP+ of the European Union (EU), the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) said on Thursday.
The prime minister made the remarks during a meeting with European Council President António Luís Santos da Costa and European Commission President Ursula Gertrud von der Leyen on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York.
During the meeting, the leaders reviewed the full spectrum of Pakistan-EU relations and expressed satisfaction at the growing momentum in high-level exchanges and engagement between Pakistan and the EU, according to the PMO.
PM Shehbaz underscored the importance of “sustained leadership-level engagement” in providing greater direction and momentum to the relationship.
He reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to further strengthening its “broad-based partnership” with the European Union and the full implementation of the Pakistan-EU Strategic Engagement Plan, the PMO said.
The leaders also exchanged views on regional and global developments and reaffirmed the importance of dialogue, diplomacy, international law and the “peaceful resolution of disputes”.
Prime minister also reiterated his invitation to the presidents of the European Council and European Commission to visit Pakistan and expressed his desire to continue working closely with them to “further deepen the mutually beneficial partnership”.
PM Shehbaz’s remarks came as Pakistan and the EU on Monday signed €65 million (about $75m) in financing agreements to support Global Gateway investments, strengthen the rule of law and business environment, and enhance energy and environmental resilience.
Meanwhile, in a post on X, Von der Leyen described the meeting with PM Shehbaz as “very good” and said the EU valued its partnership with Pakistan.
She said the EU and Pakistan had discussed how to take their partnership forward, “from trade to addressing illegal migration”.
She also thanked the prime minister for his initiative to mediate in the conflict between the United States and Iran, adding that Pakistan was playing an “important role” in support of de-escalation, dialogue and the peaceful resolution of conflicts.
Earlier this week, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar met the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Kaja Kallas, where he stressed the significance of GSP+ for Pakistan’s trade relations with the EU.
The meetings take place against the backdrop of an intense engagement between Islamabad and Brussels over the trading scheme and its future.
The current EU GSP+ framework is set to expire at the end of this year, and Pakistan is required to seek inclusion in the successor regime, which would carry more stringent requirements.
Though the new trading framework will take effect with the turn of the year, Pakistan and other existing beneficiaries will continue to receive preferences during a two-year transition period ending on Dec 31, 2028.
But the transition does not amount to an automatic continuation of the facility for the two years or a roll over into the new scheme.
A European Commission assessment covering the years 2023-25, released in July this year, concluded that Pakistan had faced compliance issues with its obligations, regressed in several areas and made limited positive change.
It should be mentioned that the EU’s GSP+ regime is tied to compliance with international conventions on human rights, labour rights, environmental protection and good governance.
The report had identified significant concerns relating to enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings, freedom of expression, journalists’ and minority rights, judicial independence, access to justice and forced labour.
Earlier this month, the European Union’s ambassador to Pakistan, Raimundas Karoblis, had also cautioned that GSP+ benefits could not be taken for granted.
