European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has called the EU’s partnership with Pakistan valuable after meeting Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in New York.
The European Union has praised its partnership with Pakistan during a high-level meeting on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif met European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Antonio Costa, where both sides pointed to the growing strength of the relationship.
Von der Leyen described the meeting as very good and said the EU valued its partnership with Pakistan. She said the bloc’s Strategic Engagement Plan reflected both the breadth of the partnership and a shared commitment to democracy, the rule of law, human rights, and civic space.
According to the Prime Minister’s Office, the leaders reviewed the full spectrum of Pakistan-EU relations and expressed satisfaction at the growing momentum in high-level exchanges between the two sides. Shehbaz reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to further strengthening the broad-based partnership and to fully implementing the Pakistan-EU Strategic Engagement Plan.
Pakistan-EU Partnership and GSP Plus Trade Ties in Focus
A central theme of the meeting was trade, with Shehbaz highlighting the importance of the EU’s GSP Plus scheme for Pakistan’s economic development, employment generation, and exports. He reiterated Pakistan’s commitment to continued engagement with the bloc under the framework.
The trade arrangement has been significant for the country’s economy. Under GSP Plus, Pakistan’s exports to the EU rose by 108 percent between 2014 and 2022, with total trade volume growing from 8.3 billion euros in 2013 to 14.85 billion euros in 2022. The scheme allows eligible countries reduced tariffs on exports to the EU, making it an important pillar of Pakistan’s trade with the bloc.
The partnership was reinforced by new financial commitments earlier in the week. Pakistan and the EU signed 65 million euros, or about 75 million dollars, in financing agreements to support investment, strengthen the rule of law and business environment, and enhance energy and environmental resilience.
EU Leaders Welcome Pakistan’s Role in Regional De-escalation
The meeting also touched on Pakistan’s growing diplomatic profile. The EU leaders thanked the prime minister for Pakistan’s initiative to help mediate between the United States and Iran, an effort aimed at reducing tensions and supporting dialogue. They noted that the two sides work together on stability and security.
The leaders also exchanged views on regional and global developments and reaffirmed the importance of dialogue, diplomacy, international law, and the peaceful resolution of disputes. The discussion reflected Pakistan’s stated commitment to positioning itself as a voice for de-escalation on the world stage.
Beyond security, the two sides discussed how to take the partnership forward, spanning trade and cooperation on addressing illegal migration. The breadth of topics pointed to a relationship that now extends well beyond any single area.
Shehbaz reiterated his invitation for the presidents of the European Council and the European Commission to visit Pakistan, and expressed his desire to keep working closely with EU leadership to deepen the partnership. The meeting closed with both sides signaling a shared interest in sustained engagement in the months ahead.
