EU summit: MEP disappointed with Pakistan delegation

BRUSSELS: Member European Parliament Sajjad Karim expressed his disappointment at the outcome of the EU-Pakistan summit on Tuesday.

The MEP said "having been aware of the circumstances leading to the summit and after analyzing the final outcome of the summit I see that Pakistan has not achieved its objectives. This is unfortunate as ultimately the people of Pakistan will fail to gain market access. Pakistan should have been much better prepared.

Talking to a private TV channel in Brussels, he said "I am very sorry to unveil that Pakistan has failed on many fronts during dialogue with EU because of poor homework and owing to failure in meeting responsibilities."

Sajjad said such meetings require months of preparation or even whereas the Pakistani delegates had made preparations hurriedly in a day or a week for such an important event.

Meanwhile, Foreign Office Spokesman Abdul Basit said the prime minister's Brussels visit was successful and several key agreements were inked with the European Union during the visit.

Talking to a private news channel, he said comprehensive preparations were made before the foreign visits. "According to Pakistan’s point of view the Brussels Conference remained successful," Basit said. "Our priority is trade. Pakistan wants trade concessions in European markets," the spokesman said.

The European Union passing through a phase of change, so as the settlement of the matters will take time, he added.

The EU-Pak summit was held in Brussels last week. Pakistan is seeking to be included in the EU's system of preferential tariffs or access to the EU market but that requires approval by all member states of the World Trade Organization as well as the European Union's 27 members and the European Parliament.

Though some of the EU officials believe Pakistan's progress can be made in the short-term, it may not be enough market access into the European Union.