ISLAMABAD – Pakistan has refused to accept European Union’s (EU) demand of abolishing the death penalty for the extension of the new Generalised Scheme of Preferences Plus (GSP+).
Report of Express Tribune suggests that the South Asian country has reportedly refused to ratify the stern conditions placed by the EU but mulled engagement to seek some waiver regarding the ratification of new protocols.
EU Parliament reportedly proposed additional conventions including the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC) – Individual complaints against State party in ICC – and First Optional Protocol to the International Convention Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) – Individual complaints against State party in ICCPR-UNHRC.
The Generalised Scheme of Preferences is a trade and development policy instrument, which is in place since 1971 and Islamabad is a major recipient of the scheme for the last seven years.
EU monitoring mission reviews progress made by the beneficiary states towards the implementation of 27 international conventions.
Reports in local media said Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif will engage with the presidents of the council and the commission to seek a waiver to the conventions. The Pakistani side will take up the matter with an EU delegation that is visiting the country and with the EU Parliament.
https://en.dailypakistan.com.pk/23-Jun-2022/eu-mission-arrives-in-pakistan-to-assess-action-on-international-conventions-before-renewing-gsp-status
On Thursday, Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto met European Union GSP Plus Monitoring Mission. PPP leader reiterated Islamabad’s commitment to 27 GSP+ related conventions and hoped for the successful completion of the fourth biennial review.
