EU ambassador looks back on 2024 as a year of collaboration, challenges

Islamabad:As 2024 drew to a close, Ambassador and Head of the Delegation of the European Union to Pakistan Dr Riina Kionka reflected on the year marked by resilience, challenges and significant milestones in the EU-Pakistan partnership.

On her final working day before the New Year holidays, Dr Kionka highlighted the diverse efforts and achievements made in Pakistan, especially in the face of numerous adversities. “2024 was too packed to rush,” she said, adding that the year witnessed significant natural disasters that ravaged Pakistan, including floods and droughts, caused immense loss of life and damage to infrastructure and livelihood.

The EU ambassador said that the EU aptly responded to the calamities by providing 14 million pounds in humanitarian aid, reaching over 3.5 million people with life-saving assistance. She said that 2024 was intense, marked by elections in Pakistan, in the EU and many other countries, bringing about political twists, new challenges and even chaos.

"Our [EU's] political engagement remained focused on human rights and GSP+ [Generalised Scheme of Preferences] for Pakistan," she said. Dr Kionka appreciated Pakistan as a "rich and vibrant" civil society and commended human rights defenders and journalists for their resilience and commitment to protecting freedom of expression and democracy in the country.

In terms of economic collaboration, she said 2024 saw the EU deepen its partnership with Pakistan through new agreements focused on youth empowerment and green job creation. “Under the Team Europe approach, we launched initiatives in Gilgit-Baltistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, including eight skill development centres of excellence,” she said.

Dr Kionka added that those centres were meant to provide advanced training to both teachers and trainees, promoting safe and legal migration from Pakistan.

She said that the EU also supported the opening of a migrant resource centre in Peshawar, following such launches in Islamabad and Lahore. The EU ambassador said that the European Union remained Pakistan’s top export destination, with 30 percent of the country’s exports headed to Europe, followed by 18 per cent to the United States and eight per cent to China.

She also said that the European Investment Bank’s mission was opening up new investment opportunities as part of the EU’s Global Gateway initiative. Dr Kionka expressed particular pride in the European Union's growing presence in Pakistan, with Ireland opening its embassy in Islamabad this year, further strengthening ties. She said that Team Europe had grown in the year, which was a significant milestone.

A highlight of the year for Dr Kionka was her countrywide travels. She said that her favourite part was traveling from Karachi to Gilgit-Baltistan to Peshawar and Quetta as the EU's Dosti Truck, designed to experience Pakistan's cultural diversity and flavours, and connect with people, hit the road again, and expressed particular appreciation for the karak chai ( strong, well-brewed Pakistani tea).

The EU ambassador also said the European Film Festival showcased over 20 films from European Union member states of diverse genres, from comedy to thrillers, from documentary to fiction, bringing together cinema lovers from across the region.

She also expressed the EU's strong commitment to gender equality, saying the Ambassador for a Day programme allowed young women to step into the world of diplomacy, with young woman Sehar Raza taking over for me as EU Ambassador for a day.

Dr Kionka appreciated Pakistani students for achieving an impressive milestone by topping Erasmus scholarships for the third consecutive year and said that it’s wonderful to see Pakistani students excel on the world stage.

She also said cultural initiatives such as Euro Village, a festival celebrating music, food and sustainability, brought communities together, underscoring the EU’s commitment to fostering cultural exchange. “I've a little secret—we're coming back soon,” she said, offering heartfelt wishes for the coming year.