Brussels, 27/11/2012 (Agence Europe) - The EU and Central Asia are to strengthen cooperation in education, the rule of law, the environment and energy.
EU High representative Catherine Ashton hailed her meeting with the foreign ministers of the five countries of Central Asia (Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan) in Bishkek on Tuesday 27 November as a “success”. She underlined the “growing importance” of Central Asia for the EU, with both regions facing “shared security challenges” and having “great potential to further develop our energy, trade and economic relations”. She promised continued European support for the “efforts of the countries of Central Asia” on their journey of political and economic reforms and help in dealing with environmental challenges.
While reaffirming the importance of all the areas of the EU cooperation strategy for Central Asia that was launched in 2007, ministers nonetheless agreed on Tuesday to “do more to make our cooperation more targeted and more efficient”, particularly in education, improving democracy, the rule of law and developing civil society, and also the environment, water and energy. On this last point, ministers stated that diversification of supply and export routes is a “key area of mutual assistance” and discussed the importance of improving energy efficiency and promoting sustainable alternative energy sources and low-carbon energy technologies.
Ministers said they shared a common aim in promoting the security of Afghanistan. An EU-Central Asia high-level security dialogue was also set up. (EH/transl.fl)