Pakistan's PM reaffirms GSP+ commitment in meetings with EU leaders at UN General Assembly amid trade scheme compliance concerns.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif met with European Council and Commission leaders at the UN General Assembly in New York to reaffirm Pakistan’s commitment to the EU’s GSP+ trade scheme. The discussions come as Pakistan faces compliance scrutiny ahead of the scheme’s expiration at year-end.
- ▪Shehbaz met European Council President António Luís Santos da Costa and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen during UNGA sidelines.
- ▪PM stressed importance of sustained leadership-level engagement and pledged to strengthen Pakistan-EU partnership under the Strategic Engagement Plan.
- ▪EU and Pakistan signed €65 million financing agreements Monday for Global Gateway investments, rule of law, and environmental resilience.
- ▪Current GSP+ framework expires end of 2024; Pakistan must seek inclusion in successor regime with more stringent requirements.
- ▪A July 2024 European Commission assessment found Pakistan had compliance issues, regressed in several areas, with limited positive change.
- ▪Report cited concerns over enforced disappearances, extrajudicial killings, press freedom, minority rights, and forced labour compliance.
- ▪Transition period through Dec 31, 2028 does not guarantee automatic continuation or rollover of GSP+ benefits.
- ▪EU ambassador to Pakistan warned earlier this month that GSP+ benefits cannot be taken for granted.
- ▪Deputy PM Ishaq Dar separately met EU foreign affairs chief Kaja Kallas this week to stress GSP+ significance for Pakistan’s trade.
- ▪Von der Leyen praised Pakistan’s mediation role in US-Iran conflict and its support for peaceful conflict resolution.
Source: according to local media reports
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