The European Union (EU), a bloc of 27 countries, has expressed a willingness to discuss free trade agreement (FTA) with Pakistan, well-informed sources told Business Recorder on Wednesday. This willingness evolved during recent talks of a dedicated group, which met in Brussels (Belgium).
Pakistan's delegation comprised Commerce Secretary Suleman Ghani, Additional Secretary Shafqat Nagmi and a Deputy Secretary Muhammad Shahid. Trade Minister in Brussels Qasim Niaz also joined the delegation. "This was the outcome of a very constructive dialogue between the EU officials and the Pakistani team," sources added.
Next meeting of the dedicated group is expected to be held by the middle of next year. This over eight-month period prior to the next meeting is inexplicable given the optimism expressed by the Commerce Ministry sources, stated some officials in the ministry on condition of anonymity.
However, others explained that as bureaucracies of 27 countries were involved in the decision making, hence the process was slow. "This is particularly so with respect to trade concessions as that may generate a conflict of interest with a member EU country producing similar products as that of the country to which trade concessions are to be granted," they opined.
The EU is Pakistan's largest trading partner and is being proactively pursued for greater market access and Generalised System of Preferences (GSP). Another meeting (fifth) of a sub-group of Pakistani team and the EU officials was held in Brussels. The sub-group was constituted on June 17 at the summit in which President Asif Ali Zardari represented Pakistan.
The summit discussed strengthening of EU-Pakistan partnership, regional political situation, global issues and the world economy. The sources said the Commerce Ministry was also hiring the services of a Europe-based international consultancy firm to provide support services relating to strengthening its trade relations with the EU.
The selected firm will be required to provide a high level of strategic and technical advice, capacity building assistance, legal representation, lobbying services and media representation. The sources said Alber and Geiger, a European Union (EU) lobbying firm, comprising former high ranking officials, has already offered its services to facilitate Pakistan to get a FTA with the EU.
Alber and Geiger is a specialised lobbying firm with representation in Brussels and Berlin, and "offers services to help ensure that the EU should fulfil its promise," wrote Martin Gerig, an associate of the firm, in a letter to the Commerce Ministry.
It is unclear how many lobbying firms have offered their services to Pakistan after publication of the advertisement in the international media. The sources disclosed that the EU had also agreed to the re-enlistment of Pakistani fish exports as Pakistan had assured that it would meet the EU's sanitary and phyto-sanitary requirements for fishery and other products. President Barack Obama is also hosting an US-EU summit next month on Pakistan and Afghanistan where the issue of market access and GSP plus may come under discussion.