On the sidelines of the 81st United Nations General Assembly in New York, Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif met with European Council President António Costa and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.
The EU’s top leadership welcomed Pakistan’s diplomatic efforts to mediate between the United States and Iran and praised Islamabad’s role in helping de-escalate the conflict and revive negotiations.
The remarks mark a shift in tone: Pakistan now stands out as a trade and development partner and as a diplomatic actor on a file that touches European security and energy interests directly.
During the talks, the Prime Minister stressed how important the EU’s GSP+ preferential trade scheme is for Pakistan’s exports, economic growth, and employment. He reaffirmed Islamabad’s commitment to the framework, which has helped drive a sharp rise in bilateral trade since 2014.
Both sides agreed to keep up high-level engagement to deepen cooperation under the Pakistan–EU Strategic Engagement Plan. They also discussed regional and global developments, agreeing that dialogue, diplomacy, respect for international law, and peaceful resolution of disputes remain essential to stability.
Prime Minister Shehbaz invited President Costa and President von der Leyen to visit Pakistan, a sign of momentum in political ties and a shared intent to build the partnership further.
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