In Luxembourg on Monday 19 June, EU foreign ministers invited EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini and the European Commission to present the Council of the EU by the end of 2019 with a proposal for a new strategy for Central Asia, in line with the EU’s global strategy.
The Council said, on the tenth anniversary of the current strategy, that it was time to re-examine it and renew the relationship. The new strategy should lay the basis for a renewed and strengthened partnership with the region and provide guidance for the aid that the EU will provide for central Asia in the future, the conclusions document explains.
The Council recalls that current EU relations with Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan are based on common responsibility and aim to encourage peaceful, prosperous, sustainable and stable socio-economic development in the region.
The ministers underline the need to intensify dialogue and cooperation on security issues and also on human rights and the rule of law, taking account of the "serious threats" to human rights in these countries.
The Council invites the High Representative, European Commission and member states to help the countries concerned define better approaches to sustainable use and management of natural resources, particularly water. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)