Polish Consul-General Ireneusz Makles has said his country will be helpful in building strategic partnership and strengthening mutually beneficial co-operation between the European Union and Pakistan. On the occasion of first anniversary of the enlargement of the UE on Saturday the consul-general said that EU-Pakistan relations have a long tradition, established in 1976, widened in 1986, and followed by the third agreement on partnership and development in April, 2004.
This agreement, he said, is aimed at consolidating, deepening and diversifying relations in areas of mutual interest on the basis of equality, non-discrimination and mutual benefit and reciprocity.
On May 1 last year, ten more countries, including Poland, were inducted into the EU fold. Makles said that EU strongly supports strengthening of regional co-operation in South Asia, and supports it with additional measures, especially the implementation of the South Asia Free Trade Area (Safta). "In a wider context, EU foresees further co-operation to strengthen international order based on effective multilateralism."
He said, "We are glad that relations between the EU and Pakistan are strong and developing."
He said that the recently concluded third-generation agreement provides a good basis for further strengthening these relations. The enlargement of EU also increases its importance in the world scene and, thereby, also for Pakistan, both politically and in matters of trade.
He said that Poland is striving to expand relations with non-EU countries. "Our closest and more distant neighbours and friends Pakistan is a very important commercial and economic partner to Poland in South East Asia."
He said that Poland and Pakistan have good 43 years tradition of dealings in all fields."
Makles said he valued Poland and Pakistan relationship and added that Poland's membership of EU would prove beneficial to Pakistan. Poland, as a friendly country to Pakistan, would enhance, and encourage other EU member states to develop, friendly relations and to have mutually beneficial and close co-operation with Pakistan at all levels.
He said that Europe had never been so prosperous, secure and free as it is today. After the latest enlargement, the EU is inevitably a global player--a union of 25 states with over 450 million people producing a quarter of world's gross national product. The Polish consul-general said: "After the membership, Poland obtained three billion euro union funds to modernise and increase economic growth."
He said that inclusion of Poland in the EU would help the country avoid potential conflicts with other countries because EU policy for its members is friendly and open to neighbours. "Poland can now influence the decisions undertaken in the framework of EU, both economic and political - for example Ukraine."
With EU membership, Poland has had fast economic growth. It has become an attractive destination for foreign investment. Foreign direct investment in Poland grew by 23 percent in 2004 to $7.86 billion from $6.42 billion. The cumulative value of foreign capital stood at $84.48 billion at the end of 2004.
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