EU support for Pakistan and terrorist financing

30.10.2020

Question for written answer  E-005921/2020
to the Commission
Rule 138
France Jamet (ID), Jean-Paul Garraud (ID), Herve Juvin (ID), Catherine Griset (ID), Annika Bruna (ID), Maxette Pirbakas (ID), Jean-François Jalkh (ID), Hélène Laporte (ID), Gilbert Collard (ID), Julie Lechanteux (ID)

The FATF, an international organisation committed to combating terrorist financing, has had Pakistan on its ‘grey list’ for years. Certain terrorist organisations are able to thrive openly in Pakistan, as their government is clearly ambivalent and sentences to deter such activities are never imposed, as was the case with Hafiz Saeed, founder of Jamaat-ud-Dawa and included on the UN list of suspected international terrorists.

Despite Pakistan’s lack of effort towards tackling Islamism, the EU continues to provide it with substantial support. In 10 years, EUR 600 million has been given to Pakistan and on 6 October, EUR 150 million of further support was announced to help with the COVID-19 crisis. Pakistan is benefitting from the generalised scheme of preferences (GSP), which exempts it from customs duty on imports into the EU.

• 1.What is the estimated overall trade value of the benefits acquired by Pakistan under the GSP+?
• 2.Will the EU remove Pakistan from the GSP+ owing to its non-compliance with the arrangements?