Tight security as EU leaders gather in Brussels
Ahead of the European Union leaders' two-day summit in Brussels, focusing on Ukraine, defence, and the economy, security is tight outside the EU headquarters.
The inaugural European Union — Central Asia summit will be held in Samarkand in April 2025, formalising the C5 + EU cooperation at the highest political level.
Preparations to the high-profile event were discussed during the recent talks between Assistant to the President of Uzbekistan Saida Mirziyoyeva and the EU Ambassador to Uzbekistan Toivo Klaar. The first-ever EU–Central Asia leaders' summit was initially planned for 2024.
“We believe that the upcoming EU-Central Asia summit will significantly strengthen our ties. The new EU leadership is truly committed to expanding relations with Uzbekistan and Central Asia. We are grateful to president Mirziyoyev for proposing Samarkand as the venue for the first-ever EU-Central Asia summit,” the EU ambassador told Gazeta.uz.
In 2019, the EU updated its strategy on Central Asia, to take account of new developments and opportunities for partnership and cooperation – both with the region as a whole and with its five individual countries (C5). The strategy aims to support sustainable development based on democracy, good governance and human rights and to boost trade and investment between the EU and Central Asia.
In 2022 and 2023, the Central Asian Heads of State and the President of the European Council held their first-ever high-level meetings, resulting in the preparation of a further joint roadmap for deepening ties between the EU and Central Asia.
“Intensification of high-level contacts reflects Central Asia's growing geostrategic importance in the light of global developments, including Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022 and the West's withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021. The changes generated new challenges in the region have become, at the same time, opportunities for the Central Asian countries to emerge as regional political actors in their own right. They also provide further avenues for partnership and cooperation in areas such as energy, raw materials and connectivity, alongside a focus on human rights and democracy, where issues remain,” -said the European Parliament in its statement.
Aid groups in Myanmar’s worst-hit areas urgently need shelter, food, and water after a devastating 7.7 magnitude earthquake killed over 2,700 people. Rescue efforts face challenges due to ongoing civil war, damaged infrastructure, and restricted aid access, with the toll expected to rise.
French far-right leader Marine Le Pen was banned from running for public office for five years after being convicted of embezzlement, ruling her out of the 2027 presidential race. She received a four-year prison sentence, with two years suspended, and a €100,000 fine. Le Pen plans to appeal.
The Armenian armed forces attempted three reconnaissance drone flights over Azerbaijan Army positions near Gerenzur, but all were successfully intercepted. Meanwhile, Armenian units repeatedly fired on Azerbaijani positions from multiple regions, escalating tensions in the area.
Apple marked its 49th anniversary by reaching a market capitalization of $3.3 trillion. Despite recent tech stock volatility, Apple's shares surged 28% in 2024.
Iran and Afghanistan are working to strengthen diplomatic and economic ties as the Taliban seeks greater engagement with the United States. The discussions focus on trade, security, and regional stability, highlighting shifting alliances in the region amid ongoing geopolitical tensions.
A roundtable discussion on Azerbaijan’s demining initiatives was held at the Hudson Institute in Washington, organized by the Azerbaijani Embassy. Representatives from ANAMA and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs provided insights into ongoing operations and challenges related to landmine clearance.
The first-ever Central Asia-European Union summit takes place in Samarkand, marking a milestone in regional cooperation. Officials will discuss trade, investment, energy, and security, aiming to strengthen economic ties and enhance political dialogue between the two regions, Kazinform reports.
The first-ever summit between the European Union (EU) and the five Central Asian nations—Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan - began today in Samarkand, Uzbekistan.
During a high-level meeting, officials from Kyrgyzstan and Russia emphasized the growing economic partnership between the two nations, highlighting a 14.5% increase in mutual trade and reaffirming their commitment to further expansion.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment