BRUSSELS – The EU foreign affairs chief will urge EU states next month to back trade concessions for Pakistan as worries grow about the impact of devastating floods on the stability of its fragile government.
EU diplomats say support for such trade breaks appears to be growing, given Pakistan’s strategic importance in the struggle against Islamist militancy, although they have been opposed by industry groups and EU states with competing textile industries.
Chief EU diplomat Catherine Ashton will push the issue again at a September meeting of EU foreign ministers – three months after a summit with Pakistan ruled out immediate concessions.
“The international community needs to be ready to support Pakistan in a lasting manner,” Baroness Ashton said this week. “This will be a significant element for the long-term recovery.
“A safe, secure, stable and prosperous Pakistan is in the interests of the EU and the wider international community.”
Concerns have grown about the stability of President Asif Ali Zardari’s government after criticism of his response to the worst floods in Pakistan’s history.
Representatives of Pakistans key textile sector said this week that damage to the cotton crop and consequent supply shortages could be a final blow to an industry already suffering from shrinking demand.
According to EU data, Pakistan’s exports to the European Union in 2009 totalled €3.02 billion ($3.86 billion), or 21.9 per cent of its total exports. – (Reuters)