GSP Status: EU Parliament passes resolution to review

European Union (EU) Parliament has passed a resolution calling for the temporary withdrawal of this status of GSP+ status to Pakistan in light of the current event.

It also demanded that the Commission and the European External Action Service (EEAS) should immediately review Pakistan’s eligibility for GSP+ status following current events. The European Union (EU) Parliament has passed a resolution on 29 April 2021 with 662 to 3 in favor and 26 not voting.

The EU parliament has demanded the “Commission and the European External Action Service (EEAS) that it should immediately review Pakistan’s eligibility for GSP+ status in the light of current events.

EU parliament members in the resolution said whether there is sufficient reason to initiate a procedure for the temporary withdrawal of this status and the benefits that come with it. The resolution calls for reporting to the European Parliament on this matter as soon as possible.

Parliament voted separately on this provision with 678 votes in favor, 8 against, and 10 not voting.

The report said that Pakistan’s blasphemy laws have led Muslims, Hindus, Christians, and others to face stiff prison sentences. It also included the death penalty, for statements related to Islam.

The European Parliament said religious minorities, including Hindus, Christians, and Sikhs, as well as Sufi, Ahmadiyya, and Shia Muslims, face regular discrimination and they are the target of extremists at large.

It further notices that there is a practice of targeting religious minorities and targeting ethnic groups, particularly those including Sindhi, having large populations of Sikhs and Hindus.

The European Parliament further said that the Sindh and Baluch were also regularly subjected to major human rights violations caused by economic development programs tied to Pakistan’s Belt and Road Initiative Agreement with China, the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor.

UNPO’s Reaction

The UNPO General Secretary, Ralph Bunche, has also issued the following statement on behalf of the UNPO:

In a statement, the general secretary said the process through which the European Parliament promulgated this resolution had left a little room for the European Commission.

The European Union (EU) Parliament has passed a message sending a clear message by voting separately on the GSP+ provision.

It is deeply concerned about the human rights situation in Pakistan and is demanding change from the government. But there is also a clear concern about how the European Commission and the European External Action Service are implementing GSP + and their ability to achieve positive change in human rights through trade incentives.

“A review of the GSP + relations with Pakistan and the report to the European Parliament on this analysis cannot be ignored.