BISHKEK (TCA) — Ten years after the adoption of the first Central Asia strategy, the EU Foreign Affairs Council on June 19 adopted conclusions on the EU strategy for the region.
The Council emphasized that Central Asian countries have become significant partners of the EU and welcomed the progress achieved under partnerships with the EU. The Council reaffirmed the EU’s commitment to develop stronger relations and highlight the need to strengthen dialogue and cooperation on human rights, education, sustainability as well as on tackling emerging security challenges faced by the Central Asian countries.
EU-Central Asia relations are developed under the EU strategy for Central Asia signed in 2007 and reviewed in 2015. The Council invited the High Representative and the European Commission to come forward with a proposal for a new Strategy by the end of 2019.
The EU’s current Central Asia strategy forms the political template between Brussels and Central Asia’s five former Soviet republics – Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan.
Although nothing concrete has yet been decided about the new strategy, the EU Foreign Affairs Council’s June 19 conclusions on Central Asia outlined a few areas, RFE/RL reported.
The text says that “given the serious challenges to human rights, including gender issues, in the region, the Council reaffirms the crucial importance of continuing a meaningful dialogue with the Central Asian countries on good governance, the rule of law, and human rights.”
It also highlights “the importance of an independent media environment free from internal and external pressures.”
According to the document, the EU also seeks a stronger involvement of Afghanistan in the region in order to contribute to “stabilization efforts in Central Asia’s neighbourhood”.
On energy, the EU pledges to extend the Southern Gas Corridor, which currently is envisaged to bring gas from Azerbaijan to Europe.
The conclusions also state that Brussels “will continue to promote renewable energy and energy efficiency in Central Asia by offering its expertise in the development of sound regulatory framework and by supporting investment cooperation with European financial institutions.”
