ISLAMABAD: European Union (EU) High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas arrived in Pakistan on Monday to participate in the 8th Pakistan-EU Strategic Dialogue, the highest-level institutional mechanism for discussions between the two sides.
According to the Foreign Office (FO), Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar will co-chair the dialogue with Kallas, who also serves as Vice President of the European Commission.
During her visit, Kaja Kallas is scheduled to hold meetings with Pakistan’s top leadership, including President Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, and Chief of Defence Forces and Chief of the Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir.
In a statement, the EU described the dialogue as an important opportunity to review bilateral relations under the Strategic Engagement Plan signed by Pakistan and the European Union in June 2019. Kaja Kallas and Dar are also expected to address a joint press conference following the talks.
The Foreign Office said Pakistan places great importance on its longstanding and multifaceted partnership with the EU, which is built on strong economic ties, shared values, and a common commitment to multilateral cooperation.
Besides official engagements, Kallas is expected to interact with representatives from think tanks and academic institutions, reflecting the EU’s wider outreach to policymakers, researchers, and civil society stakeholders.
Her visit comes amid continued cooperation between Pakistan and the European Union in areas including trade, development, climate action, migration, and regional security. Both sides have expressed interest in further strengthening engagement through regular high-level exchanges and institutional dialogue.
The EU remains Pakistan’s second-largest trading partner, with bilateral commerce receiving a significant boost through the Generalised Scheme of Preferences Plus (GSP+) programme. Pakistan obtained GSP+ status on January 1, 2014, after ratifying 27 international conventions and committing to their implementation.
The preferential trade arrangement has played a key role in expanding economic ties. Between 2014 and 2022, Pakistan’s exports to the EU increased by 108 percent, while imports from the bloc rose by 65 percent. During the same period, total bilateral trade grew from €8.3 billion in 2013 to €14.85 billion.
Pakistan’s key exports benefiting from GSP+ concessions include garments, bed linen, terry towels, hosiery, leather products, sports goods, surgical instruments, and other manufactured items, which enjoy duty-free or reduced-duty access to European markets.