Pakistan

Readmission agreement with EU to be strengthened

The two sides agreed to explore further avenues for collaboration in disaster management and capacity building

APP June 13, 2023

Pakistan and European Union Flags. PHOTO: AFP

ISLAMABAD:

As part of her ongoing visit to Belgium, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Hina Rabbani Khar has held extensive meetings with two European Union commissioners in Brussels.

The minister of state called on the European Commissioner for Crisis Management Janez Lenarcic to follow up on the discussions pertaining to the EU’s flood relief activities in Pakistan.

During the interaction, she thanked the EU for activating the European Civil Protection Mechanism post-floods that enabled immediate assistance from the EU during the rehabilitation phase.

The two sides agreed to explore further avenues for collaboration in disaster management and capacity building, according to a statement received here on Tuesday.

In her meeting with European Commissioner for Home Affairs Ylva Johansson, the minister of state discussed optimal utilisation of the recently launched Migration and Mobility Dialogue, including opportunities for legal migration of skilled labour. It was agreed to strengthen cooperation in the implementation of the Pakistan-EU Readmission agreement.

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In her interactions at the EU Commission, the minister of state expressed the hope that the EU would take a leadership role in dealing with the emerging global challenges and non-traditional security threats, including climate change, pandemics, water, energy and food security.

She advocated for collaboration and cooperation for building capacity with special focus on sustainability, green economics, agriculture and digital connectivity.

Highlighting the importance of the GSP+ scheme, the minister of state stated that the Pakistan-EU trade increased under the regime, which contributed significantly towards growth and poverty alleviation in Pakistan and has been a win-win for both sides.

Pakistan and the EU dialogue processes are driven by the Strategic Engagement Plan, which reaffirms both sides’ determination to further strengthen the long-term, forward-looking and broad-based partnership for peace, development and prosperity.