Thousands of participants gathered at the Pakistan National Council of Arts (PNCA) on Saturday to enjoy the vibrant “Euro Village” festival, organized European Union in collaboration with the EU Member States.

The event provided a unique opportunity for the residents of Islamabad and Rawalpindi to immerse themselves in European culture and heritage through music, food, and interactive experiences. In her welcome remarks, H.E. Dr. Riina Kionka, the Ambassador of the European Union to Pakistan noted, “We celebrate the diverse cultures and identities that enrich Europe, forming the foundation of our shared values and our relations with the world, including Pakistan. Together, we are stronger, and our partnership in development, trade, and political engagement reflects this commitment.

In its sixth edition of Euro Village offered an afternoon of culture, music, and culinary delights. The festival featured a variety of engaging activities, including information displays from the EU and Member States, live performances, fun games, and an array of food options. Visitors had the chance to connect with Team Europe and learn about the diverse areas of collaboration between the European Union and Pakistan. The festival also showcased the positive impact of the EU on Pakistani communities.

Attendees explored development cooperation booths, where beneficiaries shared personal stories illustrating how EU initiatives enrich their lives. This hands-on engagement emphasized the message that the EU and Pakistan are “Stronger Together” through their partnership. The event also featured live performances by both European and Pakistani artists and performers, including Farhan Saeed. The Euro Village festival was co-organized by the diplomatic missions of the European Union alongside those of Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Czechia, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Sweden, and Spain.

The celebration of culture and partnership at the Euro Village highlighted the bond between Europe and Pakistan, reinforcing a shared commitment to mutual development and cooperation under the spirit of “Stronger Together.

If we further explain the European Union, The European Union is a unique political and economic family of 27 countries. Founded in 1957, this partnership has been the bedrock of half a century of peace, stability, and prosperity for Europeans. It has helped raise living standards for Europeans, opened up frontiers – ensuring free movement of citizens across borders, and launched a single currency, the Euro.

The European Union, with the population of over 448 million, covers much of the continent. Its institutions have been agreed upon by the governments of all member countries, which make decisions together on a wide range of issues. Citizens directly elect representatives to the European Parliament, which ensures people’s say in decision-making.

One of the European Union’s main goals is to promote peace, stability, and respect of universal values both internally and around the world. Human dignity, freedom, democracy, equality, the rule of law, and respect for human rights: These are the core values of the EU.

The European Union is also one of the largest economies in the world and a prominent trading partner for many third countries as trade policy is made as a block. The European Union and its Member States, working together as Team Europe, are also the world’s leading donors, providing over EUR 50 billion annually to help overcome poverty and advance global development.Team Europe is at the forefront of global efforts to tackle common challenges impacting all of us.

Responding to climate change, the European Union is assuming its responsibility, leading by example by having reduced its greenhouse gas emissions by 23% since 1990. At the heart of the European Green Deal – a legally binding target taken in the European Climate Law, the European Union aims to be climate-neutral by 2050. This means building an economy with net-zero greenhouse gas emissions.

Pakistan and European Union:

Pakistan and the European Union established diplomatic relations over 60 years ago. The resulting partnership has constantly grown closer and has shown how Europe and Pakistan are stronger together. The Delegation of the European Union, based in Islamabad, represents the European Union and complements the work of 18 Member State Embassies (not all 27 EU Member countries are represented yet in Pakistan).

In 2019 the EU and Pakistan adopted a 5-year Strategic Engagement Plan with the common goal of building a strong partnership for peace and development rooted in shared values, principles, and commitments. This plan facilitates cooperation on a wide range of issues, including political dialogue, security, counter-terrorism, democracy and human rights, migration, climate change, energy, trade economics, and culture.

The European Union is the biggest export destination for Pakistani goods, and Pakistan enjoys special trade preferences for duty-free access to the European Single Market for a majority of goods under the GSP+ scheme. In return, Pakistan has committed to implementing in a robust way 27 international conventions on human and labor rights, environmental standards, and good governance.

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The European Union is also a major provider of development cooperation assistance to Pakistan with a focus on green inclusive growth, human capital, and governance. Our support aims to contribute to a stable, democratic, and pluralistic society that respects human rights and benefits from its full economic potential through sustainable and inclusive development for all. In Pakistan, the EU provides about EUR 100 million annually in grants. This includes efforts to achieve green inclusive growth, increase education and employment skills, promote good governance, human rights, rule of law, and ensure sustainable management of natural resources.