Brussels, 26/06/2015 (Agence Europe) - The first meeting of the education ministers of the countries of the EU and of central Asia was held in Riga on Thursday 25 on Friday 26 June. It brought together senior officials of the institutions of the European Union and the education ministers and senior representatives of Kazakhstan, Kurdistan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan. The aim of the meeting was to lay down common priorities in the field of higher education and vocational education and a roadmap for the implementation of these priorities over the next two years.
The event, which was organised by the Latvian Presidency in cooperation with the European Commission and the European External Action Service, focused on exchanging experiences and sharing best practices. It was set to conclude with visits to Latvian higher educational institutes and vocational skills and education training centres.
As the Foreign Affairs Council of the EU reaffirmed on 22 June, education is one of the most important areas in cooperation between the EU and Central Asia. Academic mobility and cooperation between educational establishments have been facilitated by the Erasmus + programme and other cooperation mechanisms. This cooperation has also been reinforced by the Central Asia education platform, which is funded by the EU. (Isabelle Lamberty)