Ishaq Dar and EU Council President Discuss GSP+ and Economic Cooperation
GSP+ scheme is covered in the report below.
On November 19, 2025, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar met with European Council President Antonio Costa in Brussels, Belgium, to discuss enhancing economic ties between Pakistan a
On November 19, 2025, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar met with European Council President Antonio Costa in Brussels, Belgium, to discuss enhancing economic ties between Pakistan and the European Union. The meeting focused on the GSP+ scheme, trade expansion, and multilateral cooperation, marking a significant step in the ongoing strategic partnership between Pakistan and the EU.
GSP+ scheme: Positive Trajectory of Pakistan-EU Relations
According to a press release, both leaders expressed their satisfaction regarding the 'positive trajectory' of relations between Pakistan and the EU. They agreed to deepen their partnership across various sectors, and Dar acknowledged the EU's continued support for Pakistan at both bilateral and multilateral levels.
During their discussions, the delegations reviewed areas of mutual interest, including trade and economic cooperation, the GSP+ arrangement, and regional as well as global security developments. Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to multilateralism, pledging to work closely to advance shared priorities and enhance cooperation in key areas. Upon arrival in Belgium, Deputy Prime Minister Dar was welcomed by Foreign Secretary Amna Baloch and the Ambassador of Pakistan to Belgium, Luxembourg, and the EU, Rahim Hayat Qureshi.
Strategic Engagement and Upcoming Dialogue
Dar is set to co-chair the seventh session of the Pakistan-EU Strategic Dialogue, following an invitation from Kaja Kallas, the EU's High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy. This dialogue aims to assess cooperation between Pakistan and the EU across all sectors outlined in the Pakistan-EU Strategic Engagement Plan 2019. The Strategic Dialogue represents the highest level of institutional interaction between the two entities.
Additionally, during his visit, Dar is scheduled to participate in the fourth EU Indo-Pacific Ministerial Forum and hold numerous bilateral meetings with senior EU officials on the sidelines of this forum. The Foreign Office emphasized that his trip to Brussels signifies a 'significant milestone' in Pakistan-EU relations and reiterates Islamabad's commitment to developing a comprehensive and mutually beneficial partnership with the EU.
Recent International Engagements
Before arriving in Belgium, Foreign Minister Dar was in Moscow, leading the Pakistani delegation at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Council of Heads of Government meeting. The SCO-CHG is the organization's second-highest decision-making body, focusing on collaboration in diverse areas, including economy, finance, trade, and socio-economic development.
While in Moscow, Dar expressed gratitude for the local government's hospitality and for the successful organization of the SCO summit. He also engaged in discussions with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, where the two reviewed the full spectrum of bilateral relations and expressed satisfaction with their current positive trajectory.
In addition to his meeting with Lavrov, Dar held informal discussions with Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, and also met with Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin and Chinese Premier Li Qiang during the summit.
