On Monday 26 March, the European External Action Service (EEAS) said that the meeting between the EU and the countries of Central Asia (Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan) was an opportunity to demonstrate "the high importance that the European Union attaches to the region's stability and prosperity, as well as closer ties".
In a press release, the EEAS states that this meeting, which was organised in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, between High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini and the ministers or deputy ministers for foreign affairs of the five Central Asian countries was the opportunity "to discuss the positive trend of EU-Central Asia relations" and the outlook for future cooperation. The EU and the countries of Central Asia cooperate in particular in the areas of development, security, counter-terrorism and the environment. "The high representative and the ministers looked forward to continued high-level contacts over the next months", the EEAS added, listing the upcoming meetings, including the next round of the EU-Central Asia High-level Political and Security Dialogue, and the next formal EU-Central Asia foreign ministers' meeting in Brussels later in 2018.
The two sides also discussed the EU's new strategy for Central Asia, planned for 2019, which is expected to focus on sustainable development, reforms and modernisation, the rule of law and good governance, trade, security, regional cooperation and connectivity.
The meeting was also the opportunity for Mogherini to underline the importance of the international community delivering on its commitment of promoting peace and prosperity in Afghanistan. According to the EEAS "concrete regional projects involving the Central Asian countries, aiming at increasing connections with Afghanistan, such as railways, air links and pipelines, are welcome and important steps in this regard". (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)