FM Qureshi invites top EU official to Islamabad for strategic dialogue

NEW YORK:  Foreign Minister Makhdoom Shah Mahmood Qureshi met Federica Mogherini, Vice President and High Representative of the European Union (EU) on Foreign Affairs and Security Policy on the sidelines of 73rd Session of the UN General Assembly in New York.

During the meeting, the Foreign Minister reiterated the invitation to the High Representative to visit to Pakistan in November this year for the Pakistan-EU Strategic Dialogue. The High Representative said she was looking forward to the visit.

The sides agreed to continue to work together for strengthening cooperation in the fields of trade and investment, development, migration and peace and security.

The two leaders further discussed the positive impact of GSP Plus on trade between Pakistan and the EU.

The Foreign Minister also briefed the High Representative on the regional situation while underscoring, an Afghan-led and Afghan-owned peace process was the only viable option for a lasting peace in Afghanistan.

Earlier in February this year, the EU extended Pakistan’s Generalised System of Preferences plus (GSP-Plus) status after the European Parliament’s Committee on International Trade expressed satisfaction on the progress achieved by the country in enacting new laws for implementation of 27 core conventions of GSP plus, especially the National Action Plan for Human Rights.

Pakistan is one of the 10 beneficiaries of EU’s GSP+ Scheme. As a result of duty free access available to Pakistan in 28 member states Pakistan’s exports to the EU have increased from 4.54 billion Euros in 2013 to 6.29 billion Euros in 2016 which implies an increase of 38%.