The first official EU-Central Asia summit was held in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, in early April. The event was attended by the President of the European Council and the President of the European Commission, as well as the leaders of five Central Asian countries - Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan. The political leaders were also joined by the heads of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development and the European Investment Bank.
During the Summit, leaders discussed joint efforts on strengthening sectoral cooperation, highlighting progress on economic, trade and investment ties, based on the implementation of current and future bilateral Enhanced Partnership and Cooperation Agreements (EPCAs).
According to the Joint Declaration released on the European Commission’s official website, the European Union and Central Asian nations reaffirmed their shared commitment to enhancing sustainable transport connectivity, recognizing it as a key driver of economic growth and regional integration. EU leaders also reiterated their continuing support towards the accession of Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan to the World Trade Organization (WTO).
The head of the European Commission also noted that the Central Asian countries have impressive reserves of critically important raw materials. The region has 40% of the global reserves of manganese, as well as lithium, graphite, and more. These raw materials are the lifeblood of the future global economy.
