The European Union’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Kaja Kallas, will visit Pakistan on June 1 to participate in the 8th EU-Pakistan Strategic Dialogue with Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, as announced by the EU on Saturday.
As part of this engagement, Kallas—also serving as the European Commission’s vice president—will meet with President Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, and Chief of Defence Forces Field Marshal Asim Munir.
The dialogue marks the eighth iteration of the EU-Pakistan Strategic Engagement Plan, established in June 2019, according to EU officials.
The EU remains Pakistan’s second-largest trading partner, with the Generalized Scheme of Preferences (GSP+) enabling duty-free access for Pakistani exports to the EU.
Granted in 2014, the GSP+ status spurred a 108% rise in Pakistani textile exports to the EU by offering preferential tariffs.
In October 2023, the European Parliament approved extending GSP+ until 2027 for qualifying developing nations, including Pakistan.
Under GSP+, countries must uphold 27 international conventions on human rights, labor standards, governance, and environmental protection.
Despite holding the status,EU Ambassador Raimundas Karoblis noted in November 2023 that Pakistan must “do better” to meet obligations, particularly regarding blasphemy laws, enforced disappearances, and minority rights protection.
In December 2025, the EU acknowledged Pakistan’s progress under GSP+, highlighting steps toward aligning capital punishment with international norms and addressing torture and minority issues, as per a Foreign Office statement.
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