Brussels, 17/06/2013 (Agence Europe) - During their first high level dialogue on security on 13 June, the European Union and countries of Central Asia (Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan) decided to strengthen their cooperation on security. They want to foster improved connections between EU programmes in Central Asia and Afghanistan along the shared borders in the region “in order to enhance security, trade and transit in border regions and promote economic development”. The EU and these five Central Asian states also decided to intensify implementation of the joint plan of action for Central Asia under the UN global counter terrorism strategy, including through expert assistance. In addition, they decided to advance the EU's border and counter-drug addiction programmes, and to renew and update the EU-Central Asia action plan on drugs. The next meeting of this dialogue is due to take place in Tajikistan in 2014. The dialogue should enable discussion on political and security issues that are of common interest - including terrorism, extremism, drugs trafficking, and chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear risks. (CG/transl.fl)