Pakistan, EU eye expanded trade, climate, digital ties

June 01, 2026 (MLN): Pakistan and the European Union have agreed to deepen their bilateral ties across trade, climate, digital infrastructure and migration, as the two sides met for the 8th Session of the Pakistan-EU Strategic Dialogue in Islamabad.

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Ishaq Dar, who co-chaired the session with EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas, said the EU Strategic Vision could serve as an important foundation for deepening political understanding, expanding sectoral cooperation and strengthening institutional linkages between the two sides.

Kaja Kallas, who arrived on a one-day visit, said the momentum of 2026 was to develop EU-Pakistan relations onto a more forward-looking footing, APP reported.

Senator Ishaq Dar said the continuation of the Strategic Dialogue demonstrated shared resolve to impart greater momentum to Pakistan-EU relations.

He also referred to the EU's active engagement during the Pakistan-India war and ongoing exchanges over the US-Iran conflict, and reiterated an invitation for the President of the EU Commission to visit Pakistan.

Kaja Kallas commended Pakistan for facilitating talks between the US and Iran, noting the conflict was affecting global energy and fertilizer prices.

She said the EU remained by far Pakistan's largest export destination larger than the US and China combined and that Pakistan continued to be the world's leading beneficiary of the GSP+ system.

Both sides identified potential for cooperation in trade, resilience building, climate, digital infrastructure, and migration and mobility.

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