The official launch of the Central Asia Rule of Law Program will take place on January 29 as part of the first Regional Steering Committee Meeting held in an online format.
The Council of Europe (CoE) says the meeting will bring together key beneficiaries, high-level government representatives from all Central Asian countries, as well as representatives of the European Union (EU) and the CoE who will discuss the Program’s implementation for the period until 2023.
Sven-Olov Carlsson, European Union Ambassador to Kazakhstan; Verena Taylor, Director of the Office of the Directorate General of Programs of the Council of Europe; Pilar Morales, Head of the Programming Department, Office of the Directorate General of Programs, Council of Europe; as well as high-level government representatives of the Central Asian countries – Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan are expected to take part in the event.
The Central Asia Rule of Law Program is a cooperation initiative based on the Partnership between the EU and the CoE. It is implemented by the CoE in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan over the period of four years (2020-2023). The Program aims to improve the lives of citizens by reinforcing human rights, rule of law and democracy in accordance with European and other international standards, based on a demand-driven approach. The overall budget of the Program is €8 889 000 (90% is funded by the EU, 10% by the CoE).
Regional and bilateral steering committees composed of representatives of national authorities, the EU and the CoE guide the implementation of the Central Asia Rule of Law Program.
The Central Asia Rule of Law Program 2020-2023 is a joint initiative of the EU and the CoE in co-operation with the authorities of five Central Asian countries (Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan). The Agreement on the creation of the Program was signed on November 28, 2019 at the occasion of the EU Regional Conference on Enhanced Integration for Prosperity in Central Asia.
The Program consists of three main actions: facilitating the creation of a common legal space between Europe and Central Asia and enhancing human rights protection; promoting transparency and action against economic crime; and promoting efficient functioning of state institutions and public administration
The Program’s implementation period has formally started on January 1, 2020 with the inception phase that lasted until 30 September 2020. The official launch of the Program will take place on 29 January 2021.
