EU foreign policy chief arrives in Pakistan for 8th Strategic Dialogue tomorrow

• Policy Kaja Kallas will also meet with PM Shehbaz, President Zardari and CDF Asim Munir

• Pakistan–EU Strategic Dialogue to review bilateral ties under 2019 framework

• EU remains Pakistan’s second-largest trading partner under GSP+ status linked to export growth, especially in textile sector

 ISLAMABAD: The European Union’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas will visit Pakistan on June 1 (tomorrow) to participate in the 8th EU-Pakistan Strategic Dialogue with Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, the EU announced on Saturday.

Kallas, who also serves as Vice President of the European Commission, will hold meetings with President Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, and Chief of Defence Forces and Chief of the Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir, according to a statement issued by the bloc.

On 1 June, the HR/VP @kajakallas will visit Islamabad for the 8th EU-Pakistan Strategic Dialogue with Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Affairs Minister @MIshaqDar50.

The discussions will focus on EU-Pakistan relations and regional cooperation.

Read more:… pic.twitter.com/Y2ZSsXCASw

— European External Action Service - EEAS 🇪🇺 (@eu_eeas) May 30, 2026

“This is the eighth round of the Strategic Dialogue between the EU and Pakistan, providing an opportunity to discuss bilateral relations under the Strategic Engagement Plan, signed in June 2019,” the EU statement said.

“HR/VP Kallas will hold a joint press conference with Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Pakistan Mohammad Ishaq Dar at 12:30 local time,” it added.

The European Union is Pakistan’s second-largest trading partner, with the GSP+ status enabling the country to benefit from duty-free or reduced-duty access on exports to European markets.

Granted in 2014, the GSP+ framework contributed to a 108 per cent increase in Pakistan’s textile exports to the EU due to concessional tariff access.

In October 2023, the European Parliament unanimously extended Pakistan’s GSP+ status for another four years until 2027, alongside other developing countries benefiting under the scheme.

According to the EU, GSP+ is a special incentive arrangement for vulnerable developing countries to “pursue sustainable development and good governance” in exchange for reducing import duties to zero on two-thirds of tariff lines.

Countries under the status are required to implement 27 international conventions covering human rights, labour rights, environmental protection, and good governance.

While Pakistan retains the status, EU Ambassador to Pakistan Raimundas Karoblis said last November that the country needs to “do better” in fulfilling its obligations, particularly regarding blasphemy laws, enforced disappearances, and minority rights.

In December 2025, the EU welcomed Pakistan’s progress on implementing the 27 conventions under the GSP+ framework, the Foreign Office said.

The FO noted that the 15th Pakistan-EU Joint Commission meeting held in Brussels on December 17 acknowledged improvements in aligning Pakistan’s application of the death penalty with international standards and encouraged further steps in this direction. It also recognised initial measures against torture and the establishment of a Commission on Minorities.