Leaders from Central Asia and the European Union will meet in Samarkand on April 4 for the first-ever EU-Central Asia Summit, aimed at deepening ties. Talks will focus on trade, investment, green energy, and security — marking a new era of cooperation.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen arrived in Samarkand ahead of the summit, emphasizing the significance of the upcoming discussions. In a post on social media, she stated, "We are in Samarkand for the first-ever EU-Central Asia Summit. Tomorrow, we will launch a new Strategic Partnership with Central Asia. It means we can rely on each other. And in today’s world, this matters more than ever."
The summit will focus on several key areas of cooperation. Trade and investment are central themes, with the EU set to unveil a major investment package aimed at modernizing critical infrastructure in Central Asia. Investment priorities will focus on transport, natural resources, electricity transmission, and digitalization. Additionally, green energy, mining, and the processing of minerals are expected to feature prominently in the discussions.
The EU is expected to highlight its ongoing Global Gateway project, a €300 billion initiative designed to develop the Trans-Caspian International Transport Corridor. This project seeks to shorten travel time between the EU and Central Asia to just 15 days, significantly enhancing connectivity between the two regions. Security is also on the agenda, with discussions set to include combating terrorism, illegal migration, and broader regional stability.
In an interview with Euronews on April 2nd, Uzbek President Mirziyoyev noted that trade between the EU and the region has quadrupled over the past seven years, reaching €54 billion. The EU is now one of the region’s key trading partners, accounting for over 40% of foreign investments.
The summit is taking place against the backdrop of shifting global dynamics. With the war in Ukraine and growing tensions between Europe and the United States over security issues, the EU views the summit as a crucial step toward greater engagement with Central Asia. Experts suggest that Brussels is aiming to reposition itself geopolitically in response to the evolving situation in the region.
The Samarkand summit will not be the first high-level meeting between Central Asian nations and global powers. Over the past two years, similar "Central Asia+" summits have been held by the United States, China, Russia, and Germany, which also organized a separate summit. However, Brussels views the Samarkand summit as the beginning of a new era of regular engagements.
As the summit draws near, expectations are high, with both sides eager to make meaningful progress. If the discussions are marked by honesty and clear goals, the Samarkand summit could pave the way for a new chapter in EU-Central Asia relations.
Germany is preparing multi-billion-euro defence purchases including jets and thousands of armoured vehicles, aiming to create Europe’s most powerful...
The Australian government has reversed its earlier decision to exempt YouTube from a landmark social media ban targeting under-16s, following concerns...
Natural disasters including wildfires, storms, and earthquakes led to an estimated $131 billion in economic losses globally during the first half of 2...
U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday warned Russia to halt its war in Ukraine within 10 days, or face sweeping penalties including tariffs and sanct...
Russia on Tuesday announced a major expansion of its entry ban list targeting EU officials, law enforcement, and academics in response to fresh sancti...
Natural disasters including wildfires, storms, and earthquakes led to an estimated $131 billion in economic losses globally during the first half of 2025, according to a report released Tuesday by German reinsurer Munich Re.
A gunman who killed four people and injured several others in a Manhattan office building left a note blaming the NFL for a brain injury he believed he had, New York officials said, linking the rampage to suspected chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE).
Spotify projected third-quarter profit below market expectations on Tuesday, citing increased tax expenses linked to employee compensation, despite strong demand for its premium subscription services.
Microsoft is reportedly in advanced negotiations to revise its agreement with OpenAI, aiming to maintain access to the startup’s cutting-edge AI technology even if OpenAI achieves artificial general intelligence (AGI), according to Bloomberg News, which cited sources familiar with the matter.
The world’s biggest dance music festival faces an unexpected setback as a fire destroys its main stage, prompting a last-minute response from organisers determined to keep the party alive in Boom, Belgium.
Australian researchers have created a groundbreaking “biological AI” platform that could revolutionise drug discovery by rapidly evolving molecules within mammalian cells.
Australian researchers have pioneered a low-cost and scalable plasma-based method to produce ammonia gas directly from air, offering a green alternative to the traditional fossil fuel-dependent Haber-Bosch process.
A series of earthquakes have struck Guatemala on Tuesday afternoon, leading authorities to advise residents to evacuate from buildings as a precaution against possible aftershocks.
'Superman' continued to dominate the summer box office, pulling in another $57.25 million in its second weekend, as theatres welcome a wave of blockbuster competition following a challenging few years for the film industry.
President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev arrived in Türkiye on Tuesday for an official visit at the invitation of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has launched its new Country Partnership Strategy (CPS) for Azerbaijan for 2025–2029, centred on two key pillars: enabling a green and diversified economy, and fostering low-carbon connectivity and inclusive development.
In a wide-ranging exclusive interview with AnewZ, former Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko, a central figure in the 2004 Orange Revolution, asserted that the current full-scale war with Russia is the culmination of a centuries-long struggle for sovereignty.
Laziz Kudratov, Uzbekistan’s Minister of Investments, Industry and Trade, held a meeting with Pedro Vargas, CEO of the Portuguese investment firm Alpac Capital and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Euronews, to explore opportunities for expanding cooperation in the financial sector
Opportunities to initiate investment partnerships and expand energy cooperation were discussed during the 8th meeting of the Joint Intergovernmental Commission on Economic and Humanitarian Cooperation between Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment