Pakistan must do more to keep GSP Plus, Romanian envoy warns as EU monitors rights record

Romania’s Ambassador to Pakistan, Dr Dan Stoenescu, has said in plain terms that Pakistan will have to do more to hold on to the European Union’s GSP Plus facility. Speaking to journalists at the National Press Club in Islamabad on Thursday, he said both Romania and the European Union are closely monitoring Pakistan’s human-rights record and its compliance with the commitments that come with the preferential trade arrangement. Pakistan has taken some positive steps, he acknowledged, but they are not enough — and an EU monitoring mission is currently examining the country’s performance in detail.

Asked whether Romania would support Pakistan’s continued access to the arrangement beyond January 2027, the ambassador declined to give a final answer. The final assessment, he said, rests with the European Union, and with the monitoring process still under way it would not be right to prejudge the outcome. That careful answer is precisely what turned the briefing from a routine press interaction into a clear message.

What GSP Plus is, and why it matters for Pakistan

Under GSP Plus, Pakistani exports get preferential access to the European market, and the facility is tied to the implementation of international conventions covering human rights, labour rights, environmental protection and good governance. The European Union is Pakistan’s largest export destination, so the future of the arrangement is directly linked to the health of the economy. The ambassador noted that concerns including alleged political victimisation, growing restrictions on the media and human-rights violations remain part of the discussion.

Trade at just $156 million — far below its potential

Bilateral trade currently stands at around $156 million, a figure the ambassador said does not reflect the real potential of the two economies. He said a delegation from the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry will visit Romania in December to explore opportunities in technology, agriculture and logistics, in cities including Cluj and Iasi, while official delegation visits are planned for early 2027. A direct shipping route from the Black Sea along the Danube, connecting through the Rhine-Main canal network to the Port of Rotterdam, is also being looked at as a way of giving trade fresh momentum.