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DE RUEHBS #0126/01 0331702
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 021702Z FEB 10
FM USEU BRUSSELS
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY
INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHIL/AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD PRIORITY
RUEHBUL/AMEMBASSY KABUL PRIORITY
RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI PRIORITY

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 BRUSSELS 000126 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: ETRD EUN PINR PK PREL
SUBJECT: PAKISTAN'S AMBASSADOR DETAILS HIS PRIORITIES WITH 
EUROPEAN UNION 
 
BRUSSELS 00000126  001.2 OF 002 
 
 
Sensitive but Unclassified.  Please handle accordingly. 
 
¶1.  (SBU)  Summary:  Newly arrived Pakistan Ambassador to the 
European Union Jalil Abbas Jilani outlined Pakistan's 
priority topics with the EU during a courtesy call with 
Ambassador Kennard January 29.  Pakistan hopes to formalize 
relations with the EU by establishing a regular summit 
schedule (rather than scheduling them on an ad hoc basis), 
gaining access to the EU's trade preference scheme GSP Plus, 
and eventually beginning Free Trade Agreement negotiations 
with the European Union.  Jilani added that Pakistan's 
relationship with the EU is a recent one, but strengthening 
the economic and trade relationship is in Pakistan's security 
and economic interests.  Jilani specifically requested that 
the United States  assist Pakistan in gaining access to the 
EU's GSP Plus scheme.  End Summary. 
 
¶2.  (SBU)  Ambassador Jilani reported the top priority is for 
Pakistan and the EU to strengthen their relationship through 
a regular summit schedule.  Although Pakistan and the EU are 
scheduled to hold an April 21 Summit in Brussels (which PM 
Gilani will attend), it will be only the second such summit 
(after the June 2009 summit) and was scheduled on an ad hoc 
basis.  Jilani reported the "ad hoc" status is an anathema in 
Pakistan since it implies only a situational relationship. 
Pakistan would prefer a more permanent relationship, which 
would then allow Pakistan and the EU to enter into other 
engagements such as political, nonproliferation, trade, and 
regional security dialogues.  (Note:  With the notable 
exception of the UK, many member states are skeptical about 
the political necessity to deepen relations with Pakistan and 
commit to a permanent summit schedule. End note.) 
 
¶3.  (SBU)  The second major item on Pakistan's agenda is to 
gain access to the EU's GSP Plus concession scheme.  Jilani 
emphasized that Pakistan's economy has suffered drastically 
since 2005 due to the security situation, and that the 
Pakistani people need economic concessions in order to remain 
supportive of the ongoing Pakistani military operations. 
Jilani reported that the EU does 15 billion dollars worth of 
trade annually with the European Union, the majority of which 
is with the United Kingdom, France, and Germany.  Jilani said 
there are two ways Pakistan would be able to have access to 
GSP Plus.  First, the EU could amend the current criteria for 
GSP Plus to apply to any country affected by terrorism. 
However, the EU-fixed criteria for GSP Plus is not set to be 
reviewed until the beginning of 2012, making 2013 the 
earliest date at which Pakistan would be able to qualify. 
The second way for Pakistan to access GSP Plus would be 
through a Pakistan-specific WTO waiver. (Note:  The EU 
granted Pakistan access to its original GSP scheme after 
September 11, 2001; however, India took the EU to the WTO for 
not using fixed criteria and won, forcing the EU to change 
its entire scheme.  End note.)  Jilani emphasized that U.S. 
support for GSP Plus for Pakistan, either through the WTO 
waiver or through changing the EU fixed criteria, would be 
helpful. 
 
¶4.  (SBU)  The final priority for Pakistan is to begin Free 
Trade Agreement negotiations.  Jilani reported the EU and 
Pakistan held preliminary discussions three months ago, but 
that the EU and Pakistan are still a significant distance 
from formal negotiations.  Jilani noted, however, that GSP 
Plus is a higher priority for Pakistan. 
 
¶5.  (SBU)  Comment:  Privately, EU officials remain 
pessimistic about Pakistan's ability to access the GSP Plus 
system in a timely manner, given that the review process for 
the fixed criteria is not scheduled until early 2012.  They 
are unwilling to look at any exceptions for Pakistan (unless 
explicitly WTO approved), given the previous experience. 
However, new EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and 
Security Policy Catherine Ashton is the former Trade 
Commissioner and she may have some ideas and political weight 
to move the Commission bureaucracy towards a creative 
solution for opening up export markets to Pakistan.  Although 
there is some political momentum in the EU to enhance its 
relationship with Pakistan, maneuvering through the fixed 
criteria will be a major challenge. End Comment 
 
¶6.  (U)  Biographic Note: Jilani arrived in Brussels December 
1, 2009, from his previous appointment as Ambassador to 
Australia (2007 to 2009).  He served as the Government's 
Spokesman on Foreign Affairs (2005 and as Director General 
(South Asia and SAARC) from 2003 to 2007.  Per press 
reporting, India declared Jilani persona non grata while 
serving as the Acting High Commissioner in New Delhi in 2003 
for reportedly giving money to activists associated with the 
 
BRUSSELS 00000126  002.2 OF 002 
 
 
Kashmiri separatist movement.  He previously has held 
diplomatic assignments in Jeddah, London, Washington, and New 
Delhi.  He is married with three children. 
 
KENNARD 
.