EU cautions Pakistan to address rights concerns or risk GSP+ trade benefits after 2027

• European Commission says Islamabad has regressed in several areas despite ‘limited progress’

• Brussels links future GSP+ eligibility to reforms on human rights, rule of law, torture and enforced disappearances

• Report voices concern over curbs on free expression, judicial independence and treatment of opposition

• Acknowledges progress on minority rights, anti-torture measures, prison reforms and gender-based violence legislation

 ISLAMABAD: The European Union has cautioned that Pakistan must address persistent shortcomings in implementing its commitments under the Generalised Scheme of Preferences Plus (GSP+) if it is to retain preferential access to the European market under a revised trade framework that comes into force on January 1, 2027.

In its latest report on the implementation of the GSP covering the 2023-2025 period, released on Thursday, the European Commission said Pakistan had "been facing compliance issues with its GSP+ obligations" and had "regressed in a number of areas while positive change was limited."

The full report is available here: https://t.co/9Klal1GCqh

The specific report on Pakistan can be found at: https://t.co/Hk1LHQZltr

— EUPakistan (@EUPakistan) July 16, 2026

The report warned that Pakistan's continued eligibility for the EU's preferential trade regime would depend on demonstrable progress in addressing longstanding concerns, particularly in the areas of human rights, rule of law and governance, ahead of the implementation of the revised GSP framework.

❗#UPDATE The EU has published 5th GSP Report!

The report evaluates the implementation of 27 international core conventions in beneficiary countries.

It points to areas where progress is needed.

Since the award of GSP+ in 2014, 🇵🇰’s exports to 🇪🇺 have risen by 91.45%.

1/2 pic.twitter.com/DZzk6eJTZa

— EUPakistan (@EUPakistan) July 16, 2026

"To ensure further GSP+ eligibility and compliance with international commitments, including in view of the revised GSP rules as of 2027, key priorities for future engagement include: ensuring accountability for human rights violations; increased efforts against torture; prison and capital punishment reforms; reversing negative developments in relation to enforced disappearances and violations of freedom of expression," the report emphasised.

Under the revised preferential trade framework, which will take effect on January 1, 2027, all existing GSP+ beneficiaries will be required to reapply for the status under more stringent sustainability, governance and human rights requirements.

The report, jointly published by the European Commission and the EU High Representative for Foreign and Security Policy, is the final monitoring assessment under the existing GSP regulation and reviews Pakistan's performance during the 2023-2025 reporting period.

The Commission's detailed assessment of Pakistan, contained in an accompanying Staff Working Document, was dominated by concerns over the country's human rights record, although it also acknowledged several important legislative and institutional reforms introduced during the review period.

Among the positive developments highlighted were legislation establishing a National Commission for Minorities, measures narrowing the scope of the death penalty, the continuation of the de facto moratorium on executions, implementing rules under the Anti-Torture Act, the enactment of the Domestic Violence Bill for Islamabad Capital Territory, and Pakistan's first conviction for marital rape.

The report also praised the National Commission for Human Rights, describing it as an increasingly important institution in advancing Pakistan's human rights obligations.

However, the Commission observed that "most progress is of legislative and administrative nature and needs to be translated into real improvements on the ground."

It said significant concerns remained, particularly regarding the rule of law and civic space, adding that reports of enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings had increased without accountability for those responsible.

The Commission also expressed concern over what it described as a deterioration in freedom of expression, arguing that amendments to cybercrime, anti-terrorism and blasphemy laws had introduced broadly worded provisions that could be used against dissidents, journalists, human rights defenders, minorities and ordinary citizens.

According to the report, media freedom continued to deteriorate despite the introduction of legislation aimed at protecting journalists, with media professionals continuing to face intimidation, harassment, violence and strategic litigation while reporting on sensitive issues.

The report specifically noted that "targeted litigation (strategic lawsuits against public participation, SLAPPs) is sometimes employed to prevent journalists and lawyers from doing their work."

It further stated that legislation including the Pakistan Electronic Crimes Act (PECA), criminal defamation, blasphemy, sedition and counter-terrorism laws contained vague definitions relating to hate speech, terrorism, defamation and false news.

According to the Commission, these provisions had created "a significant chilling effect on dissidents, journalists, human rights defenders and individuals belonging to ethnic or religious minorities."

The report also voiced concern over recent constitutional amendments, saying they had attracted criticism for potentially undermining judicial independence and adding to existing concerns regarding fair trial guarantees and access to justice.

"Latest constitutional amendments have, however, raised concerns about the impact of such reforms on the independence of the judiciary, accountability of the military, and respect for the rule of law," it said.

Referring to Pakistan's political environment, the Commission said the assessment had been shaped by persistent complaints regarding the integrity of the 2024 general elections, harsh measures against opposition leaders and supporters, and what it described as increased military influence.

It stated that political rights were adversely affected by abusive judicial proceedings and the detention of opposition leaders and supporters, including a former prime minister, while expressing concerns regarding fair trial guarantees, detention conditions and access to legal representation, visitors and medical care.

The report further maintained that military trials did not meet the fair trial standards required under Article 14 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR).

A significant portion of the assessment focused on enforced disappearances, with the Commission stating that reports continued to indicate a high and increasing number of cases, particularly in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, while observing that the Commission of Inquiry on Enforced Disappearances had failed to establish accountability for perpetrators.

It also criticised the continued absence of legislation specifically criminalising enforced disappearances.

The Commission additionally highlighted continuing discrimination against religious minorities, particularly Ahmadis, violence against women and children, high numbers of out-of-school children, child marriages, child labour, prison overcrowding and concerns over the treatment of Afghan refugees repatriated under Pakistan's return programme.

At the same time, the report acknowledged Pakistan's efforts to strengthen social protection, advance prison reforms, introduce measures against gender-based violence, expand education initiatives and improve institutional mechanisms for protecting human rights.

The latest assessment comes as Pakistan remains the largest beneficiary of the EU's GSP+ arrangement, under which exporters enjoy preferential access to the European market in return for implementing 27 international conventions relating to human rights, labour rights, environmental protection, climate action and good governance.

The Commission underscored that the economic benefits of the arrangement remained substantial.

EU imports from Pakistan reached €9.4 billion in 2022, declined to €7.9 billion in 2023 amid weaker European demand, and recovered to €8.3 billion in 2024.

The European Union continues to be Pakistan's largest export destination, accounting for 28 per cent of the country's total exports, with textiles and clothing comprising around 70 to 76 per cent of Pakistani exports to the European market.

According to the Commission, around 90 per cent of Pakistan's exports to the EU remained eligible for GSP+ preferences during 2022-2024, with utilisation averaging 93 per cent and rising to 95 per cent in 2024.

Pakistan benefited from approximately €732 million in tariff exemptions last year alone, equivalent to around 9 per cent of its exports to the European Union.

Besides reviewing Pakistan's human rights obligations, the report also assessed the country's implementation of commitments relating to labour rights, environmental protection, climate change and sustainable development.

While welcoming Pakistan's ratification of the 2014 International Labour Organisation Protocol to the Forced Labour Convention and the expansion of labour inspection mechanisms, the Commission said enforcement remained weak, forced labour continued to affect large numbers of workers and child labour was declining only gradually despite new provincial action plans.

The Commission concluded that Pakistan's commitments on labour rights, environmental protection, climate action, sustainable development and governance would remain subject to regular monitoring under the revised GSP framework from 2027.