It looks like Brussels is no longer comfortable with Pakistan enjoying GSP+ benefits without matching accountability. In its latest report released on July 16, the European Commission, together with the EU High Representative for Foreign and Security Policy, issued its final monitoring report under the current GSP regulation, covering the 2023–2025 period. And the verdict is sharp and clear – Pakistan has “regressed in a number of areas while positive change was limited.”
The report is part of the Commission’s global assessment of GSP+ and highlights persistent compliance issues. Pakistan has benefited from duty‑free access to EU markets since 2014, in exchange for implementing 27 international conventions on human rights, labour rights, environmental protection, and good governance. This preferential status has been crucial, driving a 108 percent increase in textile exports to Europe. In October 2023, the European Parliament unanimously extended GSP+ until 2027 for eligible developing countries, including Pakistan.
But the extension comes with sharper scrutiny. Beginning January 1, 2027, a new preferential trade framework will take effect. Pakistan will be required to reapply for GSP+, submit a written plan of action, and secure Brussels’ approval by the end of 2028. The monitoring mission will closely examine Pakistan’s record on the 27 conventions, with sustainability and governance requirements now more stringent than before.
The EU has raised concerns about Pakistan’s treatment of political opposition, restrictions on freedom of expression, enforced disappearances, and the use of military courts to try civilians. Officials have stressed that Pakistan must “do more” to fulfil its obligations under GSP+ ahead of the next review.
For Pakistan, maintaining GSP+ status is critical to keeping export costs low, particularly for apparel, home textiles, and surgical instruments. Yet the message from Brussels is clear: trade concessions will no longer be unconditional. Pakistan must demonstrate genuine progress on rights, governance, and compliance—or risk losing one of its most vital economic lifelines.
European Union’s report noted observed that Pakistan has “been facing compliance issues with its GSP+ obligations” and that continued access to the EU’s preferential trade regime will depend on tangible improvements in areas where concerns persist. Key priorities include accountability for human rights violations, stronger efforts against torture, prison and capital punishment reforms, and reversing negative trends in enforced disappearances and restrictions on freedom of expression.
Besides human rights, the report also reviewed Pakistan’s implementation of commitments relating to labour rights, environmental protection, climate change and sustainable development.The report observed that “most progress is of legislative and administrative nature and needs to be translated into real improvements on the ground”.For instance, Pakistan’s ratification of the 2014 International Labour Organisation Protocol to the Forced Labour Convention and the expansion of labour inspection mechanisms, but said enforcement remained weak, forced labour continued to affect large numbers of workers and child labour was declining only gradually despite new provincial action plans.
However, the Commission’s assessment was dominated by concerns over the country’s human rights record in addition to recognising a number of positive legislative measures adopted during the reporting period.
It also said “significant concerns remained, generally impacting the rule of law and civil society space”, adding that “enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings increased, without accountability for perpetrators”.
The Commission also expressed concern over the deterioration in freedom of expression, saying amendments to cybercrime, anti-terrorism and blasphemy laws had introduced vague provisions that could be used against “dissidents, human rights defenders, journalists, minorities and ordinary citizens”, exposing them to imprisonment, confiscation of assets or restrictions on foreign travel.
Media freedom, according to the report, continued to deteriorate despite the adoption of legislation for the protection of journalists, with members of the media facing intimidation, harassment, violence and strategic litigation for reporting on sensitive issues.
The report, in particular, noted that “targeted litigation (strategic lawsuits against public participation, SLAPPs) is sometimes employed to prevent journalists and lawyers from doing their work”.
“Legislation, such as the Pakistan Electronic Crimes Act (Peca) and the criminal defamation, blasphemy, sedition and counter-terrorism laws, contain vague concepts of hate speech, defamation, terrorism and false news.”
It said provisions in Peca, criminal defamation, blasphemy, sedition and counter-terrorism laws had created “a significant chilling effect on dissidents, journalists, human rights defenders and individuals belonging to ethnic or religious minorities”.
It further mentioned that recent constitutional amendments had been criticised for “further undermining judicial independence”, compounding longstanding concerns relating to fair trial guarantees and access to justice.
“Latest constitutional amendments have, however, raised concerns about the impact of such reforms on the independence of the judiciary, accountability of the military, and respect for the rule of law,” it said.
The report, which the commission said was “shaped by persistent complaints about the integrity of the 2024 electoral process, harsh measures against opposition party leaders and supporters, and further increased military influence”, also touched upon the situation of political rights.
It stated: “Political rights are negatively affected among others by abusive judicial proceedings, and detention of opposition supporters and leaders, including of a former prime minister, with concerns in terms of fair trial and detention conditions, including in relation to access to lawyers, visitors and medical assistance.”
“Military trials do not meet the requirements of ICCPR Article 14 which stipulates the right to a fair and public trial, in a court that is independent, impartial and competent, and to adequate and effective legal representation.”
The report devoted considerable attention to enforced disappearances, saying reports continued to indicate a high and growing number of cases, particularly in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, while the Commission of Inquiry on Enforced Disappearances had failed to establish accountability for perpetrators. It also criticised the continued absence of legislation specifically criminalising enforced disappearances.
The European Commission also highlighted continuing discrimination against religious minorities, particularly Ahmadis, persistent violence against women and children, high numbers of out-of-school children, child marriages, child labour, prison overcrowding and concerns over the treatment of Afghan refugees returned under Pakistan’s repatriation programme.
The Commission also assessed Pakistan’s performance under international conventions dealing with environmental protection, climate action and sustainable development, saying these obligations, together with governance commitments, would remain subject to regular monitoring under the revised GSP framework from 2027.The Commission further underscored that the economic benefits accruing to Pakistan under the arrangement remained substantial.
In a formal reaction expressed on July 23, Foreign Office spokesperson Tahir Andrabi said that Pakistan was “disappointed” with the European Union’s recent report highlighting shortcomings in its compliance with GSP+ obligations. He criticised the assessment, arguing that the report’s narrative failed to present a sufficiently balanced picture of Pakistan’s performance. He maintained that the EU had “understated the breadth of reforms undertaken since Pakistan joined GSP+ in 2014” and placed “disproportionate emphasis on lower‑than‑desired progress in a few areas.”
Yet, despite these objections, the reality remains that while GSP+ has been central to Pakistan’s economic relationship with the EU, Islamabad has consistently struggled to demonstrate tangible progress in implementing international human rights standards. The rationale behind granting GSP+ status was that trade incentives would encourage Pakistan to incrementally conform to these conventions and, in turn, strengthen its capacity to deliver public goods across communities.Pakistan has repeatedly failed to take its commitments seriously, violating conventions and undermining the very principles the scheme was designed to uphold. Against this backdrop, any decision to extend GSP+ without meaningful accountability risks emboldening the country’s power elite to persist with entrenched patterns of minority oppression, ethno‑racial discrimination, and disregard for fundamental rights. Without credible progress, GSP+ risks becoming not a tool for reform, but a shield enabling the continuation of systemic abuse
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