On 4 April 2025, the first-ever EU-Central Asia Summit took place in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, marking a historic milestone in the relations between the European Union (EU) and the Central Asian countries. The summit was chaired by President Shavkat Mirziyoyev of Uzbekistan and attended by the President of the European Council António Costa, the President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen, and the leaders of the five Central Asian countries: President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev of Kazakhstan, President Sadyr Japarov of Kyrgyzstan, President Emomali Rahmon of Tajikistan, and President Serdar Berdimuhamedov of Turkmenistan.
The leaders gathered to elevate EU-Central Asia relations, agreeing to establish a strategic partnership that will guide their collaboration in the years ahead. This summit followed years of intensifying high-level engagements and bilateral cooperation between the two regions, with the leaders recognizing the profound transformation in Central Asia that has led to deeper ties with the EU.
A Strong Commitment to Partnership
During the summit, President Mirziyoyev emphasized the growing need for close cooperation between Central Asia and the EU, highlighting the mutual political will that has driven the transformation in the region. “The development of our multifaceted cooperation is facilitated by the profound transformation in Central Asia, which has become sustainable and irreversible thanks to common political will,” Mirziyoyev said. He stressed that the summit would result in concrete decisions and initiatives to implement the agreements made.
EU leaders also expressed their commitment to deepening cooperation. António Costa, President of the European Council, affirmed, “After years of successful cooperation, it is time to take our partnership with Central Asia to the next level, deepening trade, strengthening regional collaboration, and expanding people-to-people ties.” Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, echoed this sentiment, highlighting the launch of a €12 billion investment package under the Global Gateway Strategy aimed at strengthening transport links, critical raw materials, and cooperation on energy and water.
Key Achievements and Commitments
One of the key announcements from the summit was the €12 billion Global Gateway investment package aimed at boosting transport connectivity, energy cooperation, and the green transition between the EU and Central Asia. Leaders also discussed the ongoing efforts to enhance the Trans-Caspian Transport Corridor, which will link Central Asia with Europe through sustainable transport infrastructure and logistics networks.
To support these initiatives, a €10 billion international investment package was also mobilized to enhance sustainable transport infrastructure in the region. Additionally, EU leaders reaffirmed their support for the accession of Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan to the World Trade Organization (WTO), which will further integrate these countries into the global economy.
In terms of sustainable development, the summit saw the endorsement of the EU-Central Asia declaration of intent on critical raw materials, underscoring the shared commitment to building sustainable value chains for these materials essential to green technologies and the energy transition.
Regional and Global Security
The leaders also reiterated their commitment to regional and global stability. They expressed concerns about the ongoing situations in Afghanistan and Ukraine, agreeing to cooperate on security and the peaceful resolution of conflicts in these regions. The importance of maintaining the rule of law, human rights, and fundamental freedoms was also emphasized as central to the evolving EU-Central Asia partnership.
A New Chapter in EU-Central Asia Relations
In their concluding remarks, EU leaders congratulated President Mirziyoyev for his hospitality and the successful organization of the summit, which marks a new chapter in EU-Central Asia relations. The strategic partnership will serve as the foundation for a deeper, long-lasting collaboration between the two regions, aiming for mutual prosperity, peace, and stability.
With this historic summit, the EU and Central Asia have paved the way for a future of stronger economic ties, sustainable development, and enhanced security cooperation, fostering a partnership that will benefit both regions for generations to come.
