EU plans its first summit with Pakistan

The European Union (EU) plans to hold a summit with Pakistan in June to help strengthen the civilian government there, a media report said on Sunday.

The decision to hold the summit is "a testament to the political importance the EU attaches to its relationship with the country," a source in the Czech EU presidency said.

"This is the first EU-Pakistan summit ever to be held. The EU wants to help strengthen the civilian government in Pakistan by showing strong support on the highest level," Dawn reported quoting the source as saying.

Among the subjects to be discussed at the summit include terrorism, enhanced cooperation in the field of rule of law and trade. The summit is provisionally planned for June 17.

The EU and the US have in recent months showed a growing urgency to boost ties with Pakistan due to its strategic importance in the fight against terrorism.

The EU has sent some 500 million euros (about $68 million) in aid to Pakistan since 1976, according to the European Commission, executive body of the EU.

EU wants to focus Pakistan's lawless border areas with Afghanistan with its aid, mainly on rural development, natural resources management, education and human resource sectors.