KARACHI: “The European Union (EU) is a friend of Pakistan,” said AnneMarchal, EU Minister and Deputy Head of Mission, Delegation of the EuropeanUnion to Pakistan, during her lecture on ‘EU-Pakistan relations in currentregional and international scenario’ organised by the Area Study Centre forEurope, University of Karachi, on Tuesday.

While categorically discussing areas in EU-Pakistan relations such astrade, policy, cooperation, migration, travel, education and diplomacy shealso commented about the various negative statements coming out of the USregarding Pakistan and assured that they don’t make any difference to howthe EU sees things. “We are not on the side of the US. We are on the sideof Pakistan,” she said.

“The EU is a key trade partner of Pakistan,” she said, adding thatPakistan’s exports to the EU include textiles, leather, many manufacturedproducts and agriculture, especially mangos.

EU Minister Marchal says human rights violations are not tolerated

But trade, according to her, with EU countries also depended on otherthings such as the human rights situation in Pakistan, environmentalprotection and good governance for which they have monitoring missions.

She also stressed on the importance of the presence of foreign NGOs thatlook after issues of humanitarian concern, freedom of expression, religion,enforced disappearances, extrajudicial killings, etc.

When asked if their policies regarding trade could be affected by theChina-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) free-trade agreements, especiallywhen China does not impose requirements on Pakistan, Ms Marchal explainedthat the EU had a human rights clause in all of its agreements no matterwhat country they are dealing with, and that the way she sees it China,too, wants to increase its trade with EU countries through CPEC.

“Therefore, there is a need for transparency and a level playing field thatmeets our criteria,” she said.

“Human rights violations make it to the European press and our parliamentspick it up from there. Any big violation of human rights anywhere and tradeties with that country are severed,” she added.

She also said trade, like seafood, is affected due to lack of sanitaryconditions.

“We have set the same standards for other countries, too. But the securitysituation can play a part here as we should be able to send inspectors tocheck standards regularly.