DUSHANBE, June 24, 2008, Asia-Plus — The European Council and the European Commission on June 23 published the joint Progress Report on the implementation of the EU Strategy for Central Asia adopted last year in June. The report analyses the progress and pace in realization of the Strategy as a key indicator for the EU and Central Asia’s relations.
Ms. Mahbuba Abdullaeva, Translator/Media Officer at the Delegation of the European Commission to Tajikistan, said that the new Strategy provides an overall framework for EU relations with Central Asia and builds on the results in the implementation of various agreements, policy dialogues, EU assistance programs and other initiatives for the region. It defines the strategic priorities for the cooperation, but states that implementation of these should be tailored to the specific requirements and performance of each Central Asian country.
The Council and the Commission decided to regularly review the progress of implementation of the Strategy, with the first report considering the results achieved within one year period.
As report concludes, the implementation of the Strategy is well under way. The past year has seen a significant intensification of political dialogue and practical cooperation between the EU and Central Asia in all the priority areas.
The EU has decided to double its assistance to the region with € 750 million for 2007–2013 under the Development Cooperation Instrument (DCI) and a number of Member States are also actively engaged and providing significant levels of assistance for the region.
As Central Asia is a region facing significant regional challenges which require cross–border cooperation, the need for a regional approach has been duly taken into account while implementing the Strategy.
To continue this positive trend, the EU is aimed at making further substantial progress: a greater effort should be made to promote human rights and democratization and to ensure active involvement of civil society, Parliaments, local authorities and other actors in the monitoring and implementation of the Strategy. The EU will continue work on establishing or upgrading Human Rights dialogues with all Central Asian countries; in education field, the Central Asia Research and Education Network (E–Silk–Highway) should get underway, a regular political dialogue should be maintained, supported by a broad exchange between European and Central Asian educational institutions; within the Rule of Law sector, solid cooperation should be established addressing key areas of legislation and the judicial system; in the areas of environment and water, the EU should be supporting a dynamic political process with the aim of putting an integrated regional resource management system in place; to address the common challenges, the EU should continue to play an active role in stakeholder coordination on drugs and borders and contribute to reaching tangible results on reducing drug trafficking and enhancing border management in Central Asia.
Strengthening relations between the EU and Central Asia requires an active EU presence in the region. Beyond regular official meetings, contacts with civil society and the media will be maintained. In line with the indications given in the Strategy, the European Commission is proceeding with the opening and upgrading of EC Delegations in the Central Asian countries while the Member States are expanding their network of embassies in Central Asia.
Overall, the most important challenge in further implementation of the EU Strategy for Central Asia is seen as maintaining good political momentum and pace of practical realization created over the last year, for which the EU remains wholeheartedly committed.
