EU en Pakistan komen een vijfjarig samenwerkingsplan overeen (en)
On Friday the EU held its second summit with Pakistan, with the two parties reasserting their determination to strengthen cooperation on the issues of security, trade and development, as well as promoting human rights and strengthening Pakistan's democratic institutions.
The EU was represented by the President of the European Council, Herman Van Rompuy i; and the President of the Commission, José Manuel Durão Barroso i. On the other side, the Pakistani Prime Minister, Yusuf Razá Guilani, also attended.
In the context of the strategic dialogue initiated at the first EU-Pakistan summit last year, both parties agreed to set in motion a five-year cooperation plan, which should define objectives and joint actions.
For this work to be carried out, it has been agreed that regular meetings will be held between the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Pakistan's Minister for Foreign Affairs. The first of these meetings will take place on 14 and 15 October in Brussels.
At the press conference at the end of the meeting, Van Rompuy expressed the EU's appreciation and support for Pakistan's efforts in combating terrorism and extremism, and recognised the sacrifices being made by the population and the security forces for the sake of peace and stability in the region.
The EU also welcomed Pakistan's renewed efforts in combating illegal drug trafficking. In terms of security, the two parties agreed to strengthen dialogue in the fields of disarmament, control of weapons exports and nuclear non-proliferation, and they reaffirmed their commitment to the security and stability of Afghanistan and the region as a whole.
Other areas in which the EU and Pakistan have decided to increase cooperation are trade, with a view to greater liberalisation and including Pakistan in the Generalised System of Preferences, which the EU offers to lesser developed countries; and energy, specifically the promotion of energy efficiency and clean energies.
The EU reiterated its support for the social and economic development of Pakistan, and as such it will increase its aid fund from 50 million euros a year at present, to 75 million during the period 2011-2013.