Author: Euronews
Published on: 31/03/2025 | 00:00:00
AI Summary:
On Thursday and Friday, Samarkand will host the first-ever high-level meeting between the European Union and the Central Asian countries. This landmark event will open a new chapter in relations between the regions. The first EU-Central Asia summit will contribute to strengthening our commitments to jointly ensure peace, stability, and sustainable progress. From 1991, the development of the EU strategy in Central Asia has gone through several important stages. The first large-scale cooperation program was the “Technical Assistance to the Commonwealth of Independent States” TACIS provided support to countries in the region in conducting political and economic reforms. Central Asia is becoming a space of mutually beneficial cooperation and sustainable development. As a result of joint efforts, a completely new political atmosphere has formed in Central Asia. In this context, the statement by then-European Commission Vice President Josep Borrell is indicative. The EU was guided by the main principle of promoting regional cooperation. This approach is evident in the implementation of all 10 areas of cooperation in the new strategy. These include “connectivity” (strengthening inter-regional interconnectedness) and “inclusivity” (opening the region to all external actors) In March 2024, Turkmenistan signed a protocol to the CPCA, while Tajikistan and Uzbekistan are finalizing the document’s signing. An additional impetus to cooperation development was provided by the Joint Roadmap for Deepening Ties between the EU and Central Asia, adopted in October 2023. It covers key areas of interaction, including inter-regional political dialogue, expansion of trade and economic ties, energy development, formation of a climate-neutral economy. Central Asian countries are playing an increasingly significant role in the global market. Implementing the “Global Gateway” strategy in the transport and logistics sphere is gaining particular importance. The Central Asian region is transforming into a key transit node of Eurasian communications. Key initiatives in this area include the “Team Europe” strategy. They aim at effective water resource management, developing environmentally friendly energy. The EU remains for the region not only an important trade, economic, and investment partner but also a key benchmark in sustainable development. Deepening this dialogue enables both adaptation to global challenges and the development of more targeted and substantive cooperation in priority areas. For the EU, this means maintaining a strong commitment to supporting processes aimed at strengthening regional cooperation and developing lexible mechanisms for engagement with Central Asian countries. The EU should also focus on priority areas of cooperation, such as transport, energy, climate change, and human capital development.
Original: 2018 words
Summary: 406 words
Percent reduction: 79.88%