The European Commissioner for International Partnerships, Jozef Síkela, began his visit to Central Asia from 12 to 18 March to reinforce the EU’s commitment to developing cooperation under the Global Gateway strategy, a few weeks before the EU-Central Asia summit (see EUROPE 13578/8).
Turkmenistan. During his visit to Ashgabat, Mr Síkela reaffirmed Turkmenistan’s important role in the development of the Trans-Caspian Transport Corridor, aimed at strengthening connectivity between the two regions.
“Our joint efforts are aimed at reducing trade times between Europe and Asia to just 15 days, while helping Turkmenistan to become a major hub for trade between Asia and Europe”, explained the Commissioner.
Two Global Gateway initiatives have been announced as part of the EU-Turkmenistan bilateral cooperation mechanism: a €6 million project to support Turkmenistan’s accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO) and promote economic modernisation, and a €4.5 million initiative to promote the development of renewable energies, reduce methane emissions and improve energy efficiency.
Kazakhstan. On Thursday 13 March, Mr Síkela’s visit continued in Kazakhstan, where he signed a €3 million contract to boost cooperation between the EU and Central Asia in the field of critical raw materials, implemented by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development.
The European Investment Bank (EIB) and the Development Bank of Kazakhstan (DBK) have also signed a €200 million credit framework agreement, which will be accompanied by an EU guarantee of €18 million, to support investment in sustainable transport and renewable energy.
“This financing agreement will boost connectivity, enhance renewable energy infrastructure, and further integrate Kazakhstan into the Trans-Caspian Corridor”, said the Commissioner.
Tajikistan. Before travelling to Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan, the Commissioner arrived in Tajikistan on 14 March, where projects to support the energy transition (€20 million from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development) and the local cotton value chain were signed.
In the run-up to the EU-Central Asia Summit, the EU is stepping up its visits to the region (see EUROPE 13597/25). The 16th EU-Kazakhstan Human Rights Dialogue was also held on 6 March, at which the EU stressed, among other things, the importance of a transparent and independent investigation into the 2022 events in the country, including human rights violations. (Original version in French by Pauline Denys)