EC/Pakistan agreement: cooperation agreement
PURPOSE : to conclude the Cooperation Agreement between the European Community and the Islamic Republic of Pakistan.
LEGISLATIVE ACT : Council Decision 2004/870/EC.
CONTENT : the Council approved the conclusion of a Co–operation Agreement between the European Community and the Islamic Republic of Pakistan. Signed in Islamabad in November 2001, the Agreement will enable the EU to better and more closely engage with Pakistan in a structured fashion on issues of bilateral, regional and international importance.
An EU–Pakistan Joint Commission, meeting normally once a year, will be established to oversee implementation of the Agreement.
The Agreement is based on the respect for human rights and democratic principles as laid down in the Universal Declaration on Human Rights underpins the domestic and international policies of the Community and the Islamic Republic of Pakistan and constitutes an essential element of this Agreement.
The principal objectives of this Agreement are to enhance and develop, through dialogue and partnership, the various aspects of cooperation between the Parties in the areas which fall within the bounds of their respective competences, with the following aims:
- to secure the conditions for and to promote the increase and development of two-way trade between the Parties in accordance with the Agreement establishing the World Trade Organisation (WTO);
- to support Pakistan’s efforts for comprehensive and sustainable development, including economic and social development policies which take account of the poor and disadvantaged sections of its population, particularly omen in these sections, as well as sustainable management of natural resources;
- to promote investment and economic, technical and cultural links in their mutual interest;
- to build Pakistan’s economic capability to interact more effectively with the Community.
The main elements are as follows:
- trade: the parties are required to ensure that their trade policy complies with the rules of the CMO and to inform each other of the opening of antidumping procedures; provisions have been included to extend and diversify trade. There are plans for Pakistan to join a series of international conventions on intellectual property once the agreement has been applied for 5 years;
- development: projects are planned with a view to strengthening cooperation in the following sectors: health and education, social welfare, better opportunities for women, environmental rehabilitation and rural development, the objective being to help the least-favoured sections of the population.
Priority will be granted to controlling drugs and combatting AIDS.
Specific provisions are planned with a view to strengthening cooperation in the field of the environment by promoting permanent development in the economic sector by supporting trade and developing the economic climate in Pakistan. Other provisions concern industry and services, agriculture, tourism, energy, sciences and technology. Plans have also been made to promote regional cooperation, develop human resources, strengthen cultural links and combat money laundering. The Agreement establishes a mixed committee of members in senior positions both in the European Union and in Pakistan. It will meet once a year in order to ensure that the agreement is being applied properly and establish priorities for action.
The Agreement contains an evolutive clause which allows the level of cooperation to be increased.
It has been concluded for an initial period of five years, tacitly renewable. It should be noted that the Agreement contains two annexed declarations, one on non-performance of the agreement (in the event of substantial violation of the agreement, which may result in unilateral measures being taken) and another defining intellectual, industrial and commercial property for the purposes of the agreement. A joint declaration on the re-admission of illegal immigrants is attached to the agreement but is not an integral part of it. This declaration seeks to detail Pakistan's undertaking to start negotiations
in this field with the Member States of the European Union who so request.
ENTRY INTO FORCE : this Agreement shall enter into force on the first day of the month following the date on which the Parties notify each other of the completion of the procedures necessary for this purpose. This Agreement is concluded for a period of five years. It shall be automatically renewed on a yearly basis unless one of the Parties renounces it at least six months before its expiry date.