EU Cooperation - The Times Of Central Asia

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EU Cooperation

European Commission Vice-President’s Visit a “New Impetus” to EU-Turkmenistan Relations

On January 17th, a delegation from the EU led by the Vice-President of the European Commission, Margaritis Schinas visited Turkmenistan as part of its wider tour of Central Asia, with Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan being their previous stops. The visit comes ahead of the Europe-Central Asia Investors Forum, which aims at strengthening connectivity by developing transport routes within and between Central Asia and the European Union. It is also a testament to the growing partnership between the EU and the region, said the Delegation of the EU to Turkmenistan. In Ashgabat, Schinas met with the President of Turkmenistan, Serdar Berdimuhamedov, and the Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Rashid Meredov. At the meeting, key issues such as cooperation in the EU-Central Asia format, the engagement of Central Asian countries in the EU Global Gateway initiative, and the participation of Turkmenistan in the upcoming Investors Forum were discussed. Schinas welcomed Turkmenistan’s efforts in the process of its accession to the World Trade Organization and its commitment to becoming a member of a multilateral trading system, and congratulated Turkmenistan for joining the Global Methane Pledge at COP28 in Dubai. He also underscored the EU's commitment to human rights as a fundamental principle and commended Turkmenistan's engagement in the Annual Human Rights Dialogue. At a press briefing following the visit, Schinas said “I am proud to be the first Commissioner to visit Turkmenistan since the beginning of this European Commission five years ago. Turkmenistan is an important partner of the EU in Central Asia. My visit was an opportunity to discuss Global Gateway, the EU’s main investment strategy with partners worldwide. The Global Gateway is about investing in our mutual interests, and is ideally suited to Central Asia given that it is already the world’s gateway between East and West. It was also an occasion to give new impetus to EU-Turkmenistan relations across the board.”

EU Cooperation

EU Ready to Deepen Cooperation with Kyrgyzstan

On January 15th, the President of the Kyrgyz Republic, Sadyr Japarov received the Vice-President of the European Commission, Margaritis Schinas in Bishkek. During the meeting, President Japarov noted the dynamically developing level of cooperation between Kyrgyzstan and the EU both at the inter-regional and bilateral levels, the presidential press service reported. The head of state and the vice-president of the European Commission discussed a wide range of issues, including priority projects for the Kyrgyz Republic, investment, financing, prospects for banking relations, and regional security issues. Japarov paid particularly attention to the importance for Kyrgyzstan of the upcoming Investors Forum for EU-Central Asia Transport Connectivity, which will be held in Brussels on January 29th and 30th. Discussing human rights in Kyrgyzstan, Japarov spoke of an active civil society, media freedom and unrestricted access to the internet, emphasizing the importance of reliable information in online space. In turn, Schinas spoke about the importance of positive changes in Central Asia and expressed the EU’s readiness to deepen cooperation with the Kyrgyz Republic. Schinas expressed confidence that cooperation will be strengthened in the field of financial and economic partnerships, adding that his visit was focused on climate projects, digitization issues, and the development of transport corridors. In June 2023, the first official visit of the President of the European Council, Charles Michel to the Kyrgyz Republic took place, and the first Summit of the leaders of Central Asian countries and the EU was held in the Kyrgyz resort city of Cholpon-Ata.

Internet EU Cooperation

EU’s €20M Project to Diversify Internet Resources in Kazakhstan with Satellite Communications

The European Union (EU) is set to contribute to the diversification of internet resources in Kazakhstan, as announced by Johannes Baur, the Head of the Cooperation Department of the EU Representative Office in Kazakhstan. This initiative is part of the EU's broader commitment to bolstering digital infrastructure and connectivity in Central Asia. "In Kazakhstan, internet traffic now comes from Russia and China," Baur said during a meeting organized by the Eurasian Foundation for Central Asia. He further explained the EU's proposition: "Our project wants to offer Kazakhstan the opportunity to use European satellite communications, a product of the European company, SES. For example, while Starlink satellites orbit the Earth in a low orbit, SES satellites orbit in a medium orbit. Satellites in medium orbit can cover the whole of Kazakhstan, which is an advantage. We can even cover the whole of Central Asia." This ambitious project has received approval from the European Commission and is set to be showcased at the Central Asia - European Union summit scheduled for 2024. Baur disclosed the initial funding earmarked for the project, stating, "First of all, the European Union will allocate 20 million euros, but this is the amount allocated to the whole of Central Asia. I think most of these funds will be directed to Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan. The specific details are still unknown, but it will be a large loan from the European Investment Bank." This initiative aligns with the EU's ongoing efforts to diversify its supply chains and strengthen its relations with strategic partners like Kazakhstan. Moreover, it is expected to contribute significantly to the development of a secure and sustainable supply of digital resources across Central Asia.

EU Cooperation Human rights

EU Calls on Turkmenistan to Protect Rights

The EU has called on Turkmenistan to protect women's rights, remove restrictions on the Internet and give the Red Cross access to prisons during the fifteenth round of the annual human rights dialogue between the European Union and Turkmenistan in Brussels. EU representatives took note of the recommendations of human rights defenders and raised a number of pressing issues during the meeting, calling on the Turkmen government to take effective measures to improve the situation. Before the meeting the human rights organizations, International Partnership for Human Rights (IPHR) and the Turkmen Initiative for Human Rights (TIPHR) handed over to EU representatives a report on the human rights situation in Turkmenistan with a number of recommendations, and called on the EU to use the dialogue to insist on concrete steps to address problems in Turkmenistan. In particular, Turkmenistan was recommended to take rapid and decisive steps to combat sexual and gender-based violence, including by criminalizing domestic violence, discrimination against women and girls, as well as representatives of religious minorities, persons with disabilities and LGBT representatives, and to decriminalize consensual homosexual relations. The members of the EU delegation expressed serious concerns about enforced disappearances and conditions in places of detention, including the torture and ill-treatment of prisoners. Turkmenistan should provide representatives of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) with unhindered access to prisons, the EU stated. The sides also discussed the issue of the eradication of forced labor in the cotton industry. Noting the goal of the Government of Turkmenistan to digitalize the country, the EU stressed the importance of freedom of opinion and expression, and the right to information and independent media. The EU stressed the need to ensure Internet access for all citizens, and to remove blocking from websites and social networks. During the dialogue, EU representatives also raised a number of individual cases of human rights violations and provided a list of cases of concern. The meeting discussed, among other things, the macroeconomic situation of Turkmenistan and its intention to join the WTO, as well as the issues of gas export strategy and reduction of methane emissions.

EU Cooperation

Turkmenistan and EU Discuss Energy, Transport and Environmental Issues

On December 19th, Brussels hosted the 22nd joint committee meeting between Turkmenistan and the European Union. The Turkmenistan delegation, led by the minister of finance and economy, included a deputy minister of education, along with representatives from State Concerns such as Turkmengas and Turkmenhowayollary (Turkmenistan Airlines). The EU delegation was represented by the deputy managing director for Eastern Europe and Central Asia of the European External Action Service (EEAS) and delegates from various European Commission directorates overseeing international partnerships, trade, energy, transport, climate change, environment, research, and innovation. Discussions revolved around Turkmenistan's macroeconomic status and its efforts toward global economic integration, notably focusing on its ambition for World Trade Organization (WTO) membership. The agenda encompassed energy and environmental concerns, including strategies for gas exports, initiatives targeting methane emission reduction, and the advancement of renewable energy sources, such as hydrogen. Both parties engaged in dialogue concerning collaboration in transport, education, youth policy, as well as research and innovation.

Entrepreneurship EU Cooperation

EBRD to Allocate €200 Million for Development of Youth Businesses in Central Asia

EBRD to Allocate €200 Million for Development of Youth Businesses in Central Asia The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) has launched a program aimed at developing youth businesses in Central Asia and Mongolia, and will allocate $218 million over seven years to ensure access to financing and training for young entrepreneurs. The program is aimed at the development of micro, small and medium-sized businesses under the guidance of young people aged 18 to 35 years. Companies will receive financing through 20 partner financial institutions, whilst participants will also be able to receive trainings, access various events, and use consulting services. The investments is set to be complemented by a package of up to €30 million in grants and concessional co-financing. The EBRD notes that many young people in Central Asia have entrepreneurial skills, but do not have economic opportunities. According to the bank's estimates, only 10% of young people have the necessary education and work skills. "Solving this problem is important for Central Asia, where small and medium—sized enterprises account for almost half of total employment and almost 40% of regional GDP," the EBRD emphasized. The program is funded by the Government of Kazakhstan, the Small Business Foundation, and the European Union.