European Union’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the European Commission Kaja Kallas called on Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in Islamabad on 1 June 2026. (PMO)
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif met European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas at the Prime Minister House on Monday, calling for stronger cooperation across trade, climate, security and connectivity.
According to a statement by the Prime Minister’s Office, PM Sharif welcomed Kallas and said Pakistan was keen to deepen its multifaceted partnership with the EU. He expressed satisfaction at the 8th round of the EU-Pakistan Strategic Dialogue held earlier in the day and committed to expanding cooperation in trade and investment, climate change, security, migration, sustainable development and connectivity.
The prime minister cited GSP+, the EU's preferential trade scheme, as a key instrument for strengthening economic ties between the two sides.
PM Sharif thanked the EU for its support for Pakistan's peace efforts in the Gulf region, saying Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar and Chief of Defense Forces Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir were playing a central role in those efforts.
He called on the international community, including the EU, to work collectively toward lasting peace in the region.
The prime minister also shared Pakistan's position on the situation in South Asia and Afghanistan with the EU High Representative.
PM Sharif conveyed cordial invitations to EU Council President Antonio Costa and EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to visit Pakistan, along with his best wishes to both leaders.
Kallas conveyed the EU's strong interest in deepening strategic engagement with Pakistan and expressed appreciation for Pakistan's role in promoting regional peace, according to the statement.
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar, Minister for Law, Justice and Human Rights Senator Azam Nazeer Tarar, Attorney General Mansoor Usman Awan, and Special Assistant to the Prime Minister Tariq Fatemi were among the officials present at the meeting.
Pakistan-EU strategic dialogue
Meanwhile, Pakistan FM and the EU foreign policy chief discussed regional and global developments in Islamabad on Monday.
Dar and Kallas co-chaired the 8th Pakistan-EU Strategic Dialogue in Islamabad, according to a post shared by Pakistan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs on X. The dialogue is the highest-level platform for structured discussions between the two sides.
"The two sides held comprehensive discussions on Pakistan-EU relations including trade and investment, security cooperation, climate action, migration, and multilateral cooperation," the post said.
"The two leaders also held an in-depth exchange of views on regional and global developments."
"The Dialogue reaffirmed the shared commitment of Pakistan and the European Union to further deepen engagement and expand their mutually beneficial partnership across diverse areas," the foreign ministry's social media post said.
"During the meeting, both sides acknowledged the positive trajectory of Pakistan-EU ties and agreed to further strengthen the mutually beneficial partnership."
"The two leaders also exchanged views on regional and global developments, ahead of the 8th Pakistan-EU Strategic Dialogue which is being held subsequently," the post said.
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