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EU Calls Pakistan a Major Regional Power, Seeks Stronger Strategic Partnership
ISLAMABAD: European Union’s (EU)’s foreign policy Kaja Kallas, has said Pakistan is a major regional power and an important partner of the EU as the two sides held a strategic dialogue in Islamabad.
Kallas, who is vice-president of the European Commission and the EU high representative for foreign affairs and security policy (HR/VP), is visiting Pakistan at the invitation of Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar.
The two co-chaired the 8th EU-Pakistan Strategic Dialogue, which is the highest-level platform for structured discussion between the two sides.
Addressing a joint press conference, Kallas said, “Pakistan is a major regional power and an important partner for the European Union.
“Today, in our strategic dialogue, we affirmed our shared commitment to strengthening EU-Pakistan ties even further,” she stated.
Kallas noted that her visit came at an “important moment”, adding that the “world and this region have experienced profound changes” since the two sides met in November last year.
In the formal talks the two sides held comprehensive discussions on Pakistan-EU relations including trade and investment, security cooperation, climate action, migration, and multilateral cooperation.
The two leaders also held an in-depth exchange of views on regional and global developments. The Dialogue reaffirmed the shared commitment of Pakistan and the European Union to further deepen engagement and expand their mutually beneficial partnership across diverse areas.
The Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister of Islamic Republic of Pakistan, Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar, and the High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the European Commission (HR/VP), Kaja Kallas, co-chaired the 8th Round of the Pakistan-EU Strategic Dialogue held in Islamabad on 1 June 2026.
The meeting discussed the broad contours of Pakistan-EU bilateral relations, with special regard to cooperation in political, diplomatic and multilateral avenues under the Pakistan-EU Strategic Engagement Plan 2019. Both sides agreed to continue exploring opportunities to further strengthen relations in all areas of common interest.
Both sides exchanged views on the evolving global landscape and underscored their shared resolve to strengthen multilateralism, to uphold the principles and purposes of the UN Charter as the cornerstones of global governance, as well as to promote peace, prosperity and respect for human rights.
Both sides welcomed the positive momentum in Pakistan-EU relations, marked by increasing high-level exchanges and timely convening of dialogue mechanisms. They welcomed the holding of the First Pakistan-EU Business Forum, 28-29 April 2026, in Islamabad. The Forum was a reflection of the two sides’ commitment to trade and investment opportunities and attracted significant interest by businesses from both sides. They agreed to consider holding the Business Forum periodically.
The Forum also launched the EU-Pakistan Business Network to help foster Pakistan-EU economic cooperation.
Underscoring the value of strong economic ties, the EU and Pakistan reiterated the importance of continuing cooperation within the framework of the Generalised Scheme of Preferences (GSP+).The HR/VP briefed on the EU’s new GSP+ regulation. Pakistan expressed its keen interest in joining the new scheme. Both sides agreed to continue working closely to fulfil the relevant conditions in this regard. Both sides also reaffirmed the importance of promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms, as enshrined in international obligations.
The two sides discussed cooperation on counterterrorism, as part of their wider engagement on security matters within the framework of the 2019 Strategic Engagement Plan.