The EU-Central Asia Cooperation Enters a New Phase - Focusing on the Samarkand Summit
Kazinform News Agency, April 2nd, 2025 will see Samarkand host the "EU-Central Asia" (EU-CA) Summit. At this meeting, representatives from European countries and the leaders of the five Central Asian countries will gather to discuss new cooperation opportunities. Kazakhstan's President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev will also make an official visit to Uzbekistan.
Kazinform has reviewed how the relationship between Central Asia and the EU has developed over the past three decades.
The Establishment and Deepening of Political Cooperation
The official diplomatic relations between Central Asian countries and the EU began in 1991, after the dissolution of the Soviet Union. The EU quickly recognized the independence of Central Asian states and launched a series of cooperation mechanisms to support the development of the region.
In 1993, the EU introduced the "Technical Assistance Programme for the Newly Independent States" (TACIS) aimed at promoting economic and social development in Central Asian countries. In 2007, the EU formulated its first strategic document targeting Central Asia, marking a new phase in their relationship. Currently, both sides maintain close cooperation in political, economic, security, and environmental fields.
Kazakhstan's President Tokayev has met with EU senior officials multiple times in recent years to promote bilateral cooperation. On November 26, 2021, he discussed trade, investment, post-pandemic economic recovery, climate change, transportation logistics, and humanitarian cooperation with EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in Brussels.
In June 2023, during the "Central Asia-EU" Summit held on the shores of Issyk-Kul in Kyrgyzstan, Tokayev met again with European Council President Charles Michel. On August 1, 2023, he also met with EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and EU Commission Vice-President Josep Borrell to exchange views on the prospects of Kazakhstan-EU cooperation and regional coordinated development in Central Asia.
Steady Growth in Economic and Trade Cooperation
Currently, Central Asian countries have become important trading partners for the EU. In 2022, the trade volume between Central Asia and the EU reached $49 billion, and by 2024, the trade volume between Kazakhstan and the EU alone is expected to approach $50 billion.
Kazakhstan mainly exports mineral resources such as oil, natural gas, and uranium to the EU, while also supplying metallurgical products, agricultural products, and chemical raw materials to the European market.
According to EU official data, in 2024, Tajikistan's exports to the EU amounted to 291 million euros, with major goods including metals, textiles, and minerals. Imports from the EU reached 275 million euros. Uzbekistan's trade volume with the EU reached 6 billion euros, and Kyrgyzstan had 2.8 billion euros in imports and exports with the EU.
In the future, the EU plans to further strengthen trade cooperation with Central Asia, particularly promoting logistics and supply chain construction under the framework of the "Global Gateway" initiative. To support regional economic development, the EU has allocated 30 million euros for regional connectivity projects and another 28.4 million euros to promote economic prosperity.
The EU: The Largest Investment Partner of Central Asia
From 2005 to October 2024, the EU's direct investment in Kazakhstan totaled 20.07 billion US dollars, accounting for half of the total foreign investment attracted by Kazakhstan. Overall, the EU's investment scale in Central Asia continues to expand and covers several key areas. For example, the EU has invested 55 million euros to support the digital transformation of Central Asia, including telecommunications reform, cybersecurity, and personal data protection, and collaborates with European private enterprises to advance satellite communication technology.
In terms of sustainable energy, the EU has invested 200 million euros in water resource and energy management. Additionally, in 2022, the EU signed a "Memorandum of Understanding on Critical Raw Materials Supply and Renewable Energy Cooperation" with Kazakhstan, and reached a similar agreement with Uzbekistan in 2024. The EU also allocated 16 million euros for the development of critical raw materials in Central Asia and provided 30 million euros in investment guarantees for renewable energy projects.
In the education sector, the EU invested 73 million euros from 2021 to 2027 to support student exchanges and academic cooperation, and invested 10 million euros through the DARYA project to enhance youth skills and create job opportunities.
Greeting a New Era of Cooperation
The cooperation between Central Asia and the EU is entering a new phase. Sweden’s Svevind Company has already invested in building wind and solar power plants in Kazakhstan, which is expected to produce 3 million tons of "green" hydrogen annually. Additionally, during the 2022 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP-27), Kazakhstan and the EU signed a memorandum of understanding on rare earth resource development, promoting financial and technical cooperation within the European Industrial Alliance.
Maurizio Gelli, an Italian expert, told Kazinform in an interview that cooperation in energy, transportation, and digital technology between Central Asian countries is becoming increasingly closer, and there is a strong interest in strengthening regional collaboration.
"This is a crucial moment for Central Asia to deepen external cooperation. Not only has the region made positive progress in energy, transportation, and digital technology, but it also shows a strong willingness to strengthen internal cooperation. I believe this is a major transformation in the development of Central Asia because the EU can share its own regional integration experience with this region. Against the backdrop of intensified global geopolitical competition, enhancing regional coordination will greatly enhance the autonomy of Central Asian countries. The value of the 'C5+1' cooperation mechanism will also become more prominent," he said.
He particularly pointed out that renewable energy and critical raw material development are two key directions of EU-Central Asia cooperation. "Central Asia has abundant wind and solar energy resources and possesses great potential for developing renewable energy. Moreover, the region's rare earth resources are crucial for the global supply chain. Currently, the EU still heavily relies on China for rare earth supplies; therefore, strengthening cooperation with Central Asia will help diversify the supply chain."
Samarkand Summit: Planning Green Development Together
One of the key topics of the upcoming Samarkand Summit is global ecological challenges, including discussions on the ecological crisis of the Aral Sea. Experts and government representatives will discuss restoring the regional ecosystem, combating desertification, and mitigating the impact of climate change on socioeconomic conditions.
The final outcome document of the summit – the "Regional Concept for Green Development" – is expected to be officially released. This document aims to establish a unified regional position for Central Asian countries on climate change issues and introduce comprehensive solutions from international organizations for environmental problems in the region.
It can be anticipated that the cooperation between Central Asia and the EU will reach a higher level after this summit, promoting regional sustainable development and providing new momentum for economic growth for both sides.
Source: Kazinform
Original Article: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7488553872148808227/
Disclaimer: This article represents the author's personal views. Please express your opinions by clicking the "Like/Dislike" buttons below.