EU’s Kaja Kallas Arrives in Pakistan for 8th EU-Pakistan Strategic Dialogue

European Union High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas touched down in Pakistan on Monday to participate in the 8th EU-Pakistan Strategic Dialogue — the highest-level institutional platform for structured engagement between the two sides.

According to a statement from Pakistan’s Foreign Office, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and Kallas will jointly co-chair the 8th Session of the Strategic Dialogue. On the sidelines, Kallas — who also serves as Vice President of the European Commission — is scheduled to hold separate meetings with President Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, and Chief of the Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir, as confirmed by the EU.

The EU described the visit as a significant opportunity to review the full breadth of the bilateral relationship. “This is the eighth round of the Strategic Dialogue between the EU and Pakistan, providing an opportunity to discuss bilateral relations under the Strategic Engagement Plan, signed in June 2019,” the EU stated, adding that “Kallas will hold a joint press conference with Ishaq Dar at 12:30 local time.”

Pakistan’s Foreign Office underscored the depth of the relationship, noting that “Pakistan deeply values its long-standing, multidimensional partnership with the European Union, which is anchored in shared values, robust economic cooperation, and a mutual commitment to multilateralism.”

During her stay, Kallas is also expected to engage with representatives from Pakistani think tanks and academic institutions, signalling the EU’s intent to broaden its outreach beyond government channels to include researchers, policymakers, and civil society.

The visit reinforces Pakistan and the EU’s close cooperation across several strategic domains including trade, development, climate change, migration, and regional security. The EU remains Pakistan’s second-largest trading partner, with the GSP+ framework granting Pakistani exports duty-free or reduced-tariff access to European markets. Pakistan was awarded GSP+ status on January 1, 2014, following its ratification of 27 international conventions.

The economic impact of GSP+ has been substantial. Between 2014 and 2022, Pakistan’s exports to the EU rose by 108%, while EU imports into Pakistan grew by 65%, pushing total bilateral trade from 8.3 billion euros in 2013 to 14.85 billion euros. Key Pakistani export sectors benefiting from GSP+ include garments, bed linen, terry towels, hosiery, leather goods, and sports and surgical equipment.