Islamabad, June 1, 2026: Pakistan and the European Union on Monday reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening bilateral ties and expanding cooperation across trade, investment, migration, and regional security during the 8th Pakistan–EU Strategic Dialogue held in Islamabad.
The dialogue was co-chaired by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar and the European Union’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the European Commission, Kaja Kallas, who visited Pakistan at Dar’s invitation.
According to the Foreign Office, the high-level engagement provided an opportunity to review the full spectrum of Pakistan-EU relations, assess progress under the Strategic Engagement Plan, and identify new avenues for enhanced cooperation.
During extensive delegation-level talks at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, both sides expressed satisfaction with the positive trajectory of bilateral relations and reaffirmed their commitment to further strengthening their multidimensional partnership.
Trade and economic cooperation featured prominently in the discussions, with the two sides reviewing collaboration under the Generalised Scheme of Preferences Plus (GSP+) framework and exploring ways to increase bilateral investment. The leaders also acknowledged the success of the first EU-Pakistan Business Forum held in Islamabad in April this year and discussed measures to further enhance economic engagement.
Pakistan and the EU also reviewed ongoing cooperation under the Migration and Mobility Dialogue. Both sides emphasized the importance of promoting legal migration pathways and talent partnerships while effectively addressing irregular migration through structured and mutually beneficial mechanisms.
Regional and international developments were another major focus of the dialogue. Senator Ishaq Dar highlighted Pakistan’s constructive role in promoting regional peace, stability, and diplomatic engagement, while the European Union appreciated Pakistan’s mediation efforts on various regional issues.
The two sides underscored the importance of dialogue, adherence to international law, and multilateral cooperation in addressing contemporary global challenges and maintaining international peace and stability.
During her visit, Kaja Kallas also called on Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Chief of Army Staff and Chief of Defence Forces, Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir. The meetings reviewed bilateral relations, exchanged views on regional developments, and stressed the importance of sustained high-level engagement between Pakistan and the European Union.
Officials said the visit marked another significant step in strengthening Pakistan-EU relations and provided fresh momentum for cooperation in areas of mutual interest.
At the conclusion of the dialogue, both sides agreed to hold the ninth session of the Pakistan-EU Strategic Dialogue in Brussels next year.
