On Monday October 23, the foreign ministers of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan and of the European Union’s (EU) member states, as well as the EU’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy/Vice-President of the European Commission and the European Commissioner for International Partnerships (‘Participants’) held their 19th EU-Central Asia Ministerial Meeting in Luxembourg.
On this occasion, the EU and the five Central Asian countries confirmed their joint commitment to continue their strategic partnership. Participants reaffirmed their political willingness to further strengthening their partnership based on shared values and mutual interests, as exemplified by the meetings of the Heads of State of Central Asia and the President of the European Council on October 27, 2022, in Astana, Kazakhstan and on June 2, 2023, in Cholpon-Ata, Kyrgyzstan.
Participants reiterated their commitment to work together for peace, security, and sustainable development, in full respect for international law, including the UN Charter. The EU strongly supported efforts aimed at restoration of sovereign equality of all Member States including Central Asian countries within the International Atomic Energy Agency. The EU commends the efforts of the Central Asian countries on creation of a new atmosphere of good neighborliness, mutual understanding and trust in the region. In this respect, the EU welcomes the strengthened regional cooperation through the holding of Consultative Meetings of Central Asian leaders, including the recent Fifth Consultative Meeting of the Heads of State of Central Asia held in Dushanbe, Tajikistan, on September 14, 2023.
The EU welcomed the advances with the Treaty on Friendship, Good-Neighborliness, and Cooperation for Development of Central Asia in the 21st Century signed during the 4th Consultative Meeting of the Heads of State of Central Asia held in Cholpon-Ata, Kyrgyzstan, 21 July 2022.
The foreign ministers of Central Asia’s nations welcomed the EU's continued commitment to the Central Asia region's stability and prosperity, including its comprehensive approach through Global Gateway, multilateral financial assistance, Team Europe Initiatives and individual engagement of EU Member States and European financial institutions.
Participants emphasized the continued relevance of the EU Strategy on Central Asia (2019), which prioritizes resilience, prosperity, and regional cooperation for the region's future development. Participants stressed the significance of Enhanced Partnership and Cooperation Agreements for advancing bilateral relations between the EU and its Member States and Central Asian countries.
The EU informed about the eleven packages of restrictive measures it has adopted so far and stressed the importance of results-oriented dialogue and cooperation in the context of EU’s sanctions regimes. The EU underlined the importance of the prevention of sanctions circumvention, and Participants agreed to continue their engagement in this respect.
Participants reiterated the importance of progressing on the rule of law, democracy, good governance, gender equality and universal human rights and fundamental freedoms. Participants discussed the importance of guaranteeing media freedom, freedom of expression, assembly and association and labor rights, free and fair elections and non-discrimination in all its aspects, including to ensure the full enjoyment of women and girls of their human rights, freedom of religion and belief and the rights of persons belonging to ethnic minorities, persons with disabilities, and other vulnerable groups.
Participants acknowledged the need for enhancing interconnectivity of the regional power system and continued efforts to boost energy efficiency as well as the importance of research cooperation and policy dialogue, especially in those areas that are most relevant for regional development, including water issues, climate change and environmental protection.
Participants expressed shared deep concern about the dire humanitarian, economic and human rights crisis in Afghanistan. In order to ensure sustainable peace, they called for the promotion and respect of universal human rights and fundamental freedoms of all citizens of Afghanistan in particular of women and girls, as well as children and persons belonging to ethnic and religious groups and minorities.
