26/11/2018 (Agence Europe) – On Friday 23 November, the EU and Uzbekistan opened negotiations for a new comprehensive bilateral agreement, a cooperation and enhanced partnership agreement. This new agreement, which will replace the current Partnership and Cooperation Agreement in force since 1999, is expected to focus, among others, on political cooperation, trade and investment relations, sustainable development and connectivity, human rights and governance, the European External Action Service (EEAS) explained in its statement. “Substantive negotiations are to start in early 2019, with the aim to make swift progress and to work towards concluding an ambitious agreement as soon as possible”, according to the EEAS. (CG)