EU envoy says Pakistan must ‘do more’ ahead of crucial GSP+ compliance review

The European Union has said Pakistan must make stronger progress on its international commitments as a key monitoring mission prepares to review the country’s eligibility for the GSP+ preferential trade scheme, Dawn reported.

EU Ambassador to Pakistan Raimundas Karoblis, in an interview, said Pakistan still has gaps to address. When asked whether Islamabad needed to step up its efforts, the envoy responded, “Yes, we are saying that… it needs to do more.”

He said the upcoming mission would conduct a periodic assessment of Pakistan’s implementation of the 27 UN conventions tied to GSP+, with meetings planned across government institutions, civil society, human rights groups, workers and the private sector. A detailed report with recommendations will be issued after the visit, he added, noting that implementation of commitments is really important.

The envoy said the delayed review mission, originally planned for June but postponed due to the Iran-Israel conflict, will examine Pakistan’s compliance in areas including human rights, minority protections, the death penalty, blasphemy laws, enforced disappearances, women’s rights, child labour and forced labour.

On enforced disappearances, the ambassador said the issue remained a priority concern for the EU. He acknowledged the establishment of a commission to examine such cases but noted that the mission would assess whether existing mechanisms were adequate.

Commenting on the recently enacted 27th Constitutional Amendment, Karoblis said it was an internal issue but added that the EU had different views regarding judicial independence. He said Brussels was consulting opposition parties, think tanks, civil society and international organisations on developments in Pakistan, including the use of military courts for trying civilians.

Pakistan has benefited from GSP+ status since 2014, which has contributed to a 108% rise in textile exports to the EU due to lower or zero duties. The arrangement was extended in October 2023 until 2027, but the next monitoring cycle is expected to influence Pakistan’s reapplication under the new scheme that will take effect in 2027.