Muzaffarabad, pakistan: The EU looks set to continue promising trade discussions with Pakistan in spite of recent comments from a European Parliament human rights delegation which visited the country last week.

Portuguese MEP, Ana Gomes, spoke in her capacity as delegation chair on the subcommittee for human rights and said it would be a ‘major setback’ if Pakistan reinstated the death penalty.

However there has been no other action or call from the EU on the issue of lifting the five year moratorium on the death penalty. MEPs arriving back from summer recess are keen to carry on with talks on the "Generalised System of Preferences" (GSP+) scheme between Pakistan and the EU.

The GSP+ scheme, which has received strong support from the European Parliament, allows developing countries to pay lower import tariffs on some or all of their exports to the EU.

British MEP and chair of the European Parliament friends of Pakistan group spoke from Brussels today. He said:

“There is a clear and long term strategy for the EU and Pakistan to build strong links on a wide range of issues including trade, security and policy. The GSP+ scheme with Pakistan has been progressing steadily through the European Parliament and has received strong support from a wide range of MEPs.

"There is categorically no demand from the EU that requires Pakistan to do away with the death penalty to qualify. Any arguments to this effect are not helpful or constructive and will have a negative bearing on EU-PK relations."

“The EU has also launched other successful initiatives with Pakistan such as the EU-Pakistan Five Year Engagement Plan and the first Strategic Dialogue in Islamabad last year with Baroness Ashton is clear evidence of that.

“The EU recognises that trade is a powerful engine for economic prosperity and democratic strength; the EU is keen to continue its growing relationship with Pakistan and support the country through this vital time.”

Since 1971, the EU schemes such as the GSP have allowed developing countries to increase their imports. In 2009, imports that received GSP preferences were worth €60 billion, which represents 4% of total EU imports and 9.3% of the total EU imports from developing countries.

EU ambassador to Pakistan, Lars-Gunnar Wigemark, highlighted that GSP-plus terms do not specifically include the need for abolition of the death penalty. 

A Delegation of the European Parliament’s Subcommittee on Human Rights conducted a visit to Pakistan on 26-28 August to assess the human rights situation, in particular that of women and children, and exchange views with a range of stakeholders. 

Sajjad H Karim is Member European Parliament from (North West England,Conservative) and  EU Legal Affairs Spokesperson.