Pakistan & EU pledge Deeper Trade Ties, Focus on GSP+ Compliance
Brussels, November 22, 2025 – Pakistan and the European union today reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening trade and investment relationships, with a particular emphasis on maximizing the benefits of the EU’s Generalized Scheme of Preferences Plus (GSP+) arrangement. The pledge came during the 7th Strategic Dialogue held in Brussels, co-chaired by Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and EU’s chief diplomat Kaja Kallas.
The GSP+ status grants pakistan duty-free or minimal duty access to the European market, a key component of the nation’s export strategy. Today’s dialogue served as a “extensive review” of the overall Pakistan-EU relationship, building on recent high-level engagements, according to a statement released by Pakistan’s Foreign Office (FO).
Both sides expressed a desire for a “broad-based, multidimensional and forward-looking partnership anchored in shared values, the UN Charter, multilateralism, and the principles of mutual respect and cooperation,” the FO stated. Discussions also encompassed regional and global developments, including situations in South Asia, Afghanistan, the Middle East, and broader geopolitical trends.
The meeting highlighted the importance of coordinated approaches to promoting peace, stability, sustainable development, and addressing global challenges like climate change and connectivity. Pakistan and the EU agreed to bolster cooperation under the existing Strategic Engagement Plan, progress on ongoing dialogues, and identify new areas for collaboration in the coming years.
The GSP+ arrangement is contingent upon Pakistan’s continued implementation of 27 international conventions relating to human rights, labor rights, good governance, and environmental protection.
This commitment comes amidst scrutiny of Pakistan’s adherence to these standards. Earlier this week, EU Ambassador to pakistan Raimundas karoblis indicated that Pakistan needs to “do more” in fulfilling its GSP+ commitments ahead of a scheduled review.
The GSP+ scheme is designed to incentivize developing countries to pursue sustainable development and good governance, offering significant economic benefits in return for upholding these principles.
