Brussels, 12/03/2004 (Agence Europe) - The Commissioner in charge of External Relations, Chris Patten, will visit four countries of Central Asia next week (15-19 March): Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan (Turkmenistan will not be on the programme this time). This will be the first time a Commissioner has visited Central Asia since 1996, and one of the main objectives of the trip will be to increase the EU's visibility in this strategically very important region, explained a Commission spokesperson on Friday. Concerning trade, the EU is one of the region's main trade partners (ahead even of Russia), and its forthcoming enlargement will consolidate its place as main economic partner and investor in the region. On humanitarian (Echo) and technical aid (Tacis), the EU is also very active in Central Asia: over a billion EUR in aid has been granted since 1992. Partnership and Co-operation Agreements (PACs) (which govern relations with the EU in the fields of politics, economy and trade) are in force with Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan, and although the one with Tajikistan was ratified in December, it has not yet entered into force.
In each of the four countries, Mr Patten will meet the highest-ranking representatives (Presidents, Prime Ministers, Foreign Ministers) to discuss several subjects, the priorities being: - issues related to the "justice and home affairs" dossiers, such as the fight against terrorism and trafficking in drugs (the countries in question are all neighbours of Afghanistan, the main producer of drugs, which pass mainly through Central Asia on their way to Europe); -the promotion of human rights and how the EU can support the democratisation process; -economic and political reforms (which the EU would like to see more rigorous and effective); -regional co-operation between the countries of the region. On Friday, the Commission's services particularly stressed the important of this reinforced regional co-operation, "because it will help to consolidate democracy and boost economic prosperity".
Before his visit, Mr Patten said in a press release that the countries of Central Asia were "strategically important" for Europe, and that "the enlargement of the European Union will help us to strengthen our political and economic ties with the region, whilst showing that a sustainable and fruitful relationship requires tangible steps to consolidate civil rights and the rule of law".