President Ursula von der Leyen in Uzbekistan to take the EU-Central Asia partnership to the next level

President Ursula von der Leyen, together with President António Costa, will attend the first ever EU-Central Asia Summit in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, on Friday 4 April. This visit is a strong signal of the EU’s political commitment to a deeper and stronger partnership with Central Asia.

European Commission President, Ursula von der Leyen said: “We are heading to Samarkand to take our partnership with Central Asia to the next level. In these uncertain times, Europe stands for openness and engagement. For Europe, Central Asia is a partner of choice. At the Summit, we will deepen trade ties and expand cooperation in transport, critical raw materials, digital connectivity, water, and energy. All of this will be backed by a new Global Gateway investment package, turning our commitment into action.”

The Summit sets the ground to elevate our partnership to the next level, fostering more connectivity between the two regions, with a special focus on the Trans Caspian Transport Corridor (TCTC). The EU and Central Asia will also explore stronger cooperation on security issues.

As part of her visit, on Thursday, President von der Leyen will meet with the leaders of the five Central Asia countries. Furthermore, on Friday, together with President Costa, she will participate in the plenary session of the Summit and deliver an address at the inauguration of the Samarkand Climate Forum. Follow the visit on Europe by Satellite.

Background

In 2019, the EU adopted a new Strategy on Central Asia (Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan), which highlights the growing strategic relevance of the region.

Since 2019, cooperation between the EU and Central Asia has further advanced in many areas and serves as an example of a partnership for resilience, prosperity and sustainability. New initiatives, including the EU’s Global Gateway, provide a framework for the green and digital transitions while increasing trade, investment and connectivity.

In October 2023, the EU and Central Asia adopted a Joint Roadmap for Deepening Ties between the EU and Central Asia that sets out five key areas to enhance overall EU-Central Asia relations through dialogue and practical cooperation. This Roadmap further demonstrates the commitment of the EU and Central Asia to strengthen cooperation in areas of mutual benefit.

More information: European Commission