In a phone call with European Council President António Costa, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Monday said he was looking forward to inaugurate the first ever Pakistan-EU Business Forum in Islamabad in April.
According to the PM Office, PM Shehbaz said this highlighting the importance of GSP Plus, a preferential trade arrangement offered by the European Union to developing countries, providing duty-free access to the EU market, as Islamabad is set to inaugurate the business forum on April 28-29.
As the two leaders exchanged views on Pakistan-EU relations, the premier also conveyed his good wishes for President of European Commission Ursula von der Leyen. During their conversation, they discussed the ongoing hostilities in the Middle East as well. Both leaders expressed their deep concern over the ongoing hostilities in Iran and the Gulf countries, and their impact on the global economy. “They stressed upon the need to resolve the crisis through dialogue and diplomacy,” the PMO stated.
The prime minister also shared with the EU Council president, the latest developments in Pakistan’s mediation efforts to de-escalate the Middle East crisis. The EU Council president endorsed Pakistan’s peace efforts while reaffirming that the EU supported all diplomatic efforts, aimed at restoring peace and stability in the region. While highlighting that Pakistan attached high significance to its relations with the EU, the Prime Minister recalled that his scheduled visit to Brussels had to be postponed in February. The EU Council president said that he looked forward to welcoming the prime minister in Brussels on mutually convenient dates.