On April 4, the first-ever Central Asia-European Union Summit was held in Samarkand, chaired by the President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev. The EU was represented by the President of the European Council António Costa and the President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen. Together with President Mirziyoyev, Central Asian countries were represented by the President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, the President of the Kyrgyz Republic Sadyr Japarov, the President of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon, and the President of Turkmenistan Serdar Berdimuhamedov.
The EU and Central Asia leaders agreed to elevate relations between the two regions by establishing a strategic partnership.
President Mirziyoyev stated that Central Asia and the European Union are traditional partners, and the need for close cooperation is only growing. “The development of our multifaceted cooperation is facilitated by the profound transformation in Central Asia, which has become sustainable and irreversible thanks to common political will. Our summit will result in a historic decision to establish a strategic partnership between Central Asia and the European Union. I am convinced that our strategic partnership should be filled with concrete decisions, projects and programmes. I would like to emphasise the importance of introducing mechanisms for the practical implementation of our initiatives and agreements,” he said.
European Council President António Costa stated: “After years of successful cooperation it is time to take our partnership with Central Asia to the next level, deepening trade, strengthening regional collaboration and expanding people-to-people ties. This summit reaffirms our shared commitment to a strategic partnership built on common values and interests. The EU remains a reliable forward-looking partner for Central Asia, investing in its long-term sustainable development for mutual, long-lasting benefit.”
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced the launch of the EU’s €12 billion Global Gateway investment package for “strengthening transport links between us and deepening cooperation on critical raw materials, digital connectivity, water, and energy. These investments will benefit us both. Because when our partners grow and prosper, Europe does too.”
The EU and Central Asia leaders also supported ongoing efforts towards sustainable transport connectivity and strengthening economic ties through initiatives under the Global Gateway Strategy. In this context, they highlighted the progress on the Trans Caspian Transport Corridor connecting Europe and Central Asia.
To boost cooperation on energy and the green transition, the summit highlighted the shared EU and Central Asia commitment to sustainable value chains for critical raw materials, through the endorsement of the EU-Central Asia declaration of intent on critical raw materials.
The leaders also welcomed the increasing involvement of the European Investment Bank (EIB) and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) in the region in the specific areas of energy, water management, connectivity, transport and critical raw materials.
Photo: president.uz
