As the EU-Central Asia summit approaches, European experts highlight growing economic, geopolitical, and energy interests in the region. With increasing bilateral agreements and investment, Europe aims to enhance cooperation while promoting stability, trade, and regional integration.
The upcoming EU-Central Asia summit, set for April 3-4, 2025, in Samarkand, has sparked discussions among European experts on the importance of strengthening ties with the region.
Slovak MEP Katarína Nevedálová welcomed the summit, expressing hope that it would boost EU-Central Asia cooperation. She emphasized the need to analyze existing institutional frameworks and expand economic partnerships, as Central Asia is becoming a key geopolitical player.
EU Reporter columnist Derya Soysal noted that Europe’s interest in Central Asia has intensified, especially following the COVID-19 pandemic and growing climate concerns. Major EU economies like Germany and France are increasing bilateral engagements, particularly with Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, which have emerged as strategic partners.
Beyond economics, the EU aims to extend its influence by promoting democracy, human rights, and European values. Central Asia’s stability makes it a suitable candidate for deeper European engagement. Since 2022, high-level meetings between Central Asian leaders and the President of the European Council have established concrete goals for strengthening ties.
In the 1990s, Europe viewed Central Asia mainly through the lens of regional security and the Afghan crisis. Today, economic cooperation, access to energy and raw materials, and transport infrastructure—especially the Middle Corridor—have taken center stage. The EU, already the region’s second-largest trade partner and leading investor, seeks to expand capital inflows into Central Asia.
Dr. Maurizio Geri, an EU Marie Curie postdoctoral fellow and Italian Navy reservist, believes this is a pivotal moment. Central Asian nations are improving regional cooperation while deepening ties with Europe. The EU, with its experience in regional integration, could offer valuable guidance.
Greater regional cohesion would help Central Asia navigate geopolitical pressures from major powers like China and Russia. Economic cooperation in renewable energy and critical raw materials, essential for technological advancements, presents another key opportunity. Europe’s reliance on China for rare earth elements makes Central Asia a strategic alternative for diversifying supply chains.
Experts agree that the summit could mark a new phase in EU-Central Asia relations, fostering stronger economic, political, and energy partnerships.
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Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief: here are the top news stories for the 18th of December, covering the latest developments you need to know.
Australia has been plunged into mourning following the deadly shooting at a Jewish holiday gathering on Sydney’s Bondi Beach, with the funeral of 10-year-old Matilda marking a deeply emotional moment for the nation.
The United States military has carried out another lethal strike against an alleged drug-trafficking vessel in the eastern Pacific Ocean, marking the second such attack in the space of a week and underscoring a sharp escalation in Washington’s anti-narcotics campaign.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has urged Ukraine’s allies to secure support for Kyiv and convince Russia that pressing on with the war would be futile. He made the comment during his evening address on Wednesday ahead of a key European Union summit focused on Moscow’s frozen assets.
Cambodia must be the first to declare a ceasefire in the ongoing border conflict, Thailand said on Tuesday (16 December), as fighting continued despite earlier claims that hostilities would stop and at least 52 people have been killed on both sides.
The latest clashes between Thailand and Cambodia mark a dangerous escalation in one of Southeast Asia’s oldest and most sensitive disputes.
In the complex world of international diplomacy, the ongoing tensions between India and Pakistan have raised significant questions about the role of third-party mediation.
The fourth European Conference on Azerbaijani Studies was held in Vienna, Austria, on 5 December, by the European Network for Azerbaijani Studies and the Strategic Consultancy Group.
President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev is visiting the United Arab Emirates at the invitation of President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan on Wednesday, 17 December, as the two countries seek to further strengthen their partnership.
Emirati investment has become a central element of Azerbaijan’s renewable energy ambitions, prompting fresh focus on whether recent high-level visits were also aimed at accelerating a shift beyond oil and gas.
A major financing agreement has been signed for the construction of the China–Kyrgyzstan–Uzbekistan railway, a flagship cross-border infrastructure project expected to reshape transport connectivity across Central Asia.
Uzbekistan has increased up electricity exports to Tajikistan as part of wider regional efforts to stabilise energy supplies during periods of seasonal shortage and reduced water availability.
Iran has summoned the ambassador of Republic of Cyprus Petros Nacouzis over remarks made by his country regarding Iran’s territorial integrity.
Kyrgyzstan has joined the TRACECA multilateral permit system, a move analysts say will deepen regional integration, cut transport costs and ease cross-border trade, opening new routes to Europe and the Black Sea.
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