The European Union (EU) is among the world’s most important economic and political blocs. Comprising 27 member states, it functions through common policies, shared institutions and a single market. Officially established on November 1, 1993, the EU was created to promote peace, security and economic prosperity across Europe. Although it does not have a single physical headquarters, its main administrative and political institutions are located in different European cities, with Brussels, Belgium, serving as the principal hub.

For Pakistan, relations with the European Union have long carried considerable importance. These ties cover trade, political engagement, development cooperation and humanitarian assistance. Over the decades, the EU has emerged as Pakistan’s most important export destination. Pakistan’s exports to the EU mainly include textiles, medical equipment and leather products, while EU exports to Pakistan largely consist of mechanical and electrical equipment, along with chemical and pharmaceutical products.

The formal foundation of this relationship goes back several decades. In 1976, the first European Commission-Pakistan Commercial Agreement was signed. Ten years later, a Commercial and Cooperation Agreement, valid for five years, was........

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