On June 2, 2023, the Second EU-Central Asia meeting was held in Cholpon-Ata in the Issyk-Kul region of Kyrgyzstan. The meeting was attended by President of the European Council Charles Michel, President of Kyrgyzstan Sadyr Japarov, President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, Tajikistan’s President Emomali Rahmon, President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev and Turkmenistan was represented by the Deputy Chair of the Cabinet of Ministers Nurmuhammet Amannepesov. The first EU-Central Asia meeting was held in Kazakhstan in October 2022. The Second meeting at the level of Heads of State has been a further attempt to institutionalise the relationship between the EU and the Central Asian countries.
In the lead up to Second EU-Central Asia Summit, several dialogues were held between the EU and Central Asia, including the Second EU-CA Economic Forum in Almaty in May 2023, the Civil Society Forum in Tashkent in March 2023, the High-Level meeting of the EU-CA on Environment and Water in Rome in February 2023, the EU-CA Conference on Interconnectivity, and the EU-CA Ministerial Meeting in Samarkand in November 2022.[i]
The EU's ongoing frequent engagements in the region have been propelled by the complex geopolitical situation evolving after the withdrawal of the US forces from neighbouring Afghanistan and takeover by the Taliban and, secondly, due to the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
EU-Central Asia Relations: Growing Engagements
In 1992, the EU formally established diplomatic ties with all five Central Asian countries. In 2001, international intervention in Afghanistan gave new momentum to the relationship between the EU and Central Asia. The EU formulated its first policy on Central Asia in 2007. Consequently, the official document "EU and Central Asia: A Strategy for a New Partnership" was issued, underlining the EU's apparent interest in the countries of the region.[ii] The EU updated and supplemented its first policy on Central Asia with the ‘New Central Asia Strategy’ in 2019, emphasising three pillars: partnering for increased resilience, investing in regional cooperation, and partnering for the region's prosperity. EU's Global Gateway Strategy, adopted in 2021, is also an important initiative in terms of cooperation in transport and connectivity, including with the Central Asian region.[iii]
With the outbreak of the Russia-Ukraine conflict in 2022, Central Asia's significance to the European Union has increased as a significant region in the shifting security landscape on the Eurasian continent, including as an alternative energy source through a transit route that circumvents Russia In the current geopolitical circumstances, the demands and interests of the EU and Central Asian countries regarding energy security are complementary.
EU’s significance for Central Asia is on account of factors such as diversifying trade partners and supply lines, transitioning to a green economy, security and science and innovation. The EU is also a significant donor to the region. The total funding under the EU's Development Cooperation Instrument to Central Asia amounted to €1.1 billion ($1.2 billion) from 2014 to 2020.[iv]
The two sides are also trying to develop resilient transport connectivity in the wake of the situation following the Russia-Ukraine conflict. The development of the trans-Caspian transport route has vast potential.[v] Given the complementarities of interest and changing geopolitical situation, both sides strongly desire to intensify cooperation.
Second EU-CA Meeting: Finding Convergence
The Second EU-Central Asia meeting presented an opportunity to review their partnership in the context of changing geopolitical situation in the region. In the Joint Communiqué adopted following the meeting, the leaders reaffirmed their commitment to advancing the EU-CA partnership on the priority areas identified, such as security issues related to Afghanistan and terrorism, sanctions, trade and investment, connectivity, sustainable development, climate change and people-to-people contact.
Security
The stability and humanitarian situation in Afghanistan and the fight against terrorism and extremism are areas of concern to both the EU and Central Asia. In the meeting, both EU and Central Asian countries stressed the importance of establishing an inclusive and representative government and promoting and respecting human rights and fundamental freedoms of all citizens of Afghanistan, especially women, girls and ethnic groups. They also noted the importance of the dialogue between the European Union and Central Asia on Afghanistan through mechanisms like meetings of the European Union and Central Asian Special Representatives and Special Envoys for Afghanistan.[vi]
Terrorism was strongly condemned by both sides, and it was demanded that the pertinent UN Security Council resolutions on preventing the spread of terrorism, separatism, and radical ideas, particularly online, be consistently implemented. In this context, "Central Asia-the European Union: A new agenda for cooperation in the field of security" was proposed.[vii]
Trade and Investment
The EU is a crucial trade partner for Central Asia. In 2020, Central Asia's exports to the EU exceeded $18.2 billion. The EU's exports to Central Asia equalled $10.2 billion in the same year. In the last ten years, EU member states have invested more than €105 billion ($121.3 billion) in Central Asian countries, which exceeds 40% of the total foreign direct investment in the region.[viii]
The Joint Communiqué underlined the critical need for initiatives to strengthen the systems of reciprocal trade and investment for becoming prominent regional commercial partners for each other.[ix] The leaders also emphasised the creation of "a unified geo-economic space to facilitate various forms of cooperation" in Central Asia.[x]
Charles Michel, President of the European Council, referring to the EU's ongoing debate over the 11th set of Russia-related sanctions to reduce the possibility of circumventing by those "who support the Russian military machine", Charles Michel stated that trade restrictions against Central Asia would not be implemented.[xi] He added that the EU wants to use diplomacy to persuade Central Asian countries not to assist Russia in circumventing sanctions and said, "We do not apply the principle of extraterritoriality, and, most importantly, we want to work with all of our partners around the world only through dialogue." The EU has designated a Special representative to discuss issues related to sanctions with concerned countries.[xii]
Connectivity
The common objective of the EU and CA is enhancing sustainable connectivity. Central Asia could "become a hub connecting Europe and Asia". It was proposed to hold a permanent forum at the level of heads of transport organisations with the European Union.[xiii] The leaders asserted that the Trans-Caspian route has grown in strategic importance for transportation and recommended developing a joint EU and Central Asia plan on transport issues.[xiv]
Sustainable Development, Energy and Climate Change
The leaders also reaffirmed the necessity of greater interregional cooperation between the European Union and the Central Asian countries to implement "creative, mutually beneficial, 'open water' and energy cooperation".[xv] The leaders specifically emphasised the detrimental effects of issues arising due to the drying of the Aral Sea on regional security. They also raised the pressing climate change issues, such as the melting of glaciers.[xvi]
Conclusion
Over a period, the EU has increased its interaction with Central Asia, particularly in connectivity, energy, and regional cooperation. The EU also desire to take a more active role in the security threats to the region. Central Asia also seeks expanded EU involvement since the EU can play a constructive role in Central Asia in many ways, such as providing an alternative to Russia and China in terms of investment, market and source of technology, assisting countries in developing their societies, diversifying economies, and promoting regional cooperation in Central Asia.
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*Dr. Punit Gaur, Research Fellow, Indian Council of World Affairs, New Delhi.
Disclaimer: Views expressed are personal.
Endnotes
[i] European Council, "Joint press communiqué by Heads of State of Central Asia and the President of the European Council, June 2 2023, https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2023/06/02/press-communique-by-heads-of-state-of-central-asia-and-the-president-of-the-european-council/. (Accessed on June 5 2023)
[ii] Anna Matveeva (2023), "A New Opening for EU–Central Asia Relations?", Carnegie Europe, https://carnegieeurope.eu/2023/04/13/new-opening-for-eu-central-asia-relations-pub-89454. (Accessed on June 7 2023)
[iii] Astana Times, 'Central Asia and EU Prioritize Sustainability, Connectivity, Economic Development Amid Complex Geopolitical Landscape' May 18 2023, https://astanatimes.com/2023/05/central-asia-and-eu-prioritize-sustainability-connectivity-economic-development-amid-complex-geopolitical-landscape/. (Accessed on June 7 2023)
[iv] The European External Action Service, 'The European Union's development priorities in Central Asia', March 16 2022, The EU Development Priorities in Central Asia | EEAS (Europa. eu). (Accessed on June 7 2023)
[v] UZDAILY, 'Second European Union-Central Asia Summit: new opportunities for economic partnership', June 3 2023, http://www.uzdaily.com/en/post/81320. (Accessed on June 7 2023)
[vi] Ibid
[vii] President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, 'Uzbek President Launches Major Initiatives to Further Deepen Regional Cooperation between Central Asia and the European Union', June 2 2023,https://president.uz/en/lists/view/6396. (Accessed on June 6 2023)
[viii] Azimzhan Khitakhunov (2023), 'Economic Cooperation between Central Asia and the European Union' Eurasian Research Institute, https://www.eurasian-research.org/publication/economic-cooperation-between-central-asia-and-the-european-union/. (Accessed on June 13 2023)
[ix] European Council, "Joint press communiqué by Heads of State of Central Asia and the President of the European Council, June 2 2023, https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2023/06/02/press-communique-by-heads-of-state-of-central-asia-and-the-president-of-the-european-council/. (Accessed on June 5 2023)
[x] President of the Kyrgyz Republic, 'President Sadyr Zhaparov: Cooperation between Central Asia and the European Union has significant potential to achieve our common goals of peace, stability, development and prosperity, June 2 2023,https://www.president.kg/ru/sobytiya/24920_president_sadyr_zhaparov_cooperation_between_central_asia_and_the_european_union_has_significant_potential_to_achieve_our_common_goals_of_peace_stability_development_and_prosperity. (Accessed on June 6 2023)
[xi] DARYO, 'EU assures Central Asia: no sanctions ahead, focused on dialogue and trade', June 4 2023,https://daryo.uz/en/2023/06/04/eu-assures-central-asia-no-sanctions-ahead-focused-on-dialogue-and-trade. (Accessed on June 13 2023)
[xii] Gazeta.UZ, 'EU vows not to impose sanctions against Central Asia', June 5 2023, https://www.gazeta.uz/en/2023/06/05/ca-eu/. (Accessed on June 13 2023)
[xiii] President of the Kyrgyz Republic, 'President Sadyr Zhaparov: Cooperation between Central Asia and the European Union has significant potential to achieve our common goals of peace, stability, development and prosperity, June 2 2023,https://www.president.kg/ru/sobytiya/24920_president_sadyr_zhaparov_cooperation_between_central_asia_and_the_european_union_has_significant_potential_to_achieve_our_common_goals_of_peace_stability_development_and_prosperity. (Accessed on June 6 2023)
[xiv] The Astana Times, 'President Tokayev Outlines Priorities for Central Asia and EU Cooperation', June 2 2023, https://astanatimes.com/2023/06/president-tokayev-outlines-priorities-for-central-asia-and-eu-cooperation/.(Accessed on June 8 2023)
[xv] News Central Asia, '2nd EU-Central Asia High-Level Regional Meeting Concludes in Kyrgyzstan – Joint Press Communiqué Adopted – Uzbekistan Ready to Host First EU-Central Asia Summit Next Year', June 2 2023, https://www.newscentralasia.net/2023/06/02/v-kyrgyzstane-zavershilas-vtoraya-regionalnaya-vstrecha-vysokogo-urovnya-yes-tsentralnaya-aziya/. (Accessed on June 12 2023)
[xvi] Embassy of the Republic of Tajikistan in the Republic of India, 'Participation in the second meeting of the heads of state of Central Asia and the European Union, June 3 2023, https://mfa.tj/en/newdelhi/view/12753/participation-in-the-second-meeting-of-the-heads-of-state-of-central-asia-and-the-european-union. (Accessed on June 8 2023)