Brussels, 16/04/2004 (Agence Europe) - The EP Foreign Affairs Committee went against rapporteur John Cushnahan and approved the signing of the EU/Pakistan co-operation and commerce agreement by a narrow margin (16 in favour, 14 against) on Thursday. This promises a close vote next week in plenary (where the Parliament is only consulted). The rapporteur was against giving a green light as Pakistan has not made the progress in human rights required under Article 1 of the agreement. If we vote in favour, it will be because of pressure from America and geo-political reasons, he deplored. This opinion was shared by British Liberal Emma Nicholson, who pointed out that the Parliament is a capable of taking a firm stand on human rights issues, for example for Romania (own initiative report), Turkey or Iran. In contrast, Sarah Ludford, also a British Liberal, is in favour of the agreement provided that the Parliament can exert firm pressure to obtain conformity with the human rights clause. We have grave reservations about human rights in Pakistan, but the country has made progress, and the socialist group will therefore vote "yes", said Hannes Swoboda (Social-Democrat, Austria).