European Union seeking Pakistan to implement core conventions for GSP + status

The European Commission and the European External Action Service (EEAS) on Tuesday, in its 4th GSP Report for Generalized System of Preferences seeking Pakistan to practically implement the progress on core conventions for GSP plus.

The European Commission and the European External Action Service (EEAS) expressed grave concerns on various issues i.e. death penalty, media freedom, religious freedom, social – economic and political freedom of people, forced disappearances and politicization of state institutions in Pakistan.

The period under review spans from 2020 to 2022. The report evaluates the implementation of 27 intl core conventions in beneficiary countries,incl for sustained benefits.

The evaluation procedure for Pakistan’s GSP + status have active contributions and collaborative efforts of Pakistani authorities, civil society, trade unions, business organisations and international entities.

❗️#UPDATE EU has released 4️⃣th GSP Report!
Report evaluates the implementation of 27 intl core conventions in beneficiary countries,incl 🇵🇰 for sustained benefits.
It 📌 points areas where progress is needed.
Since award of GSP+🇵🇰’s exports to EU ⬆️ by 108%
🔗 Link to report 👇 pic.twitter.com/TU49n6KgPM

— EUPakistan (@EUPakistan) November 21, 2023

Pakistan became a GSP+ beneficiary in 2014.The EU is Pakistan’s second most important trading partner, accounting for 14.3% of Pakistan’s total trade in 2022 and absorbing 29.8% of Pakistan’s total exports.

From 2014 to 2022, Pakistan’s exports to the EU increased by 108% whereas imports from the EU increased by 65% and the total trade volume increased from EUR 8.3 billion in 2013 to EUR 14.85 billion.

Pakistani exports to Europe having GSP+ concessions are heavily dependent on garments, bedlinen, terry towels, hosiery, leather, sports and surgical goods and similar products.

The EU block has released the report as part of the monitoring on the implementation of the 27 international conventions that Pakistan has signed and committed to implement for continuous duty-free access to the European markets.