EU to extend Eastern Partnership towards Central Asia and Türkiye

EU’s increasing focus on connectivity — not only within the Eastern Partnership (EaP) region but extending towards Central Asia and Türkiye was a key message throughout the Business Forum held in Warsaw under the Polish EU Council Presidency.

At a crucial moment for the region, the European Commission reaffirmed the EU’s commitment to deeper economic cooperation and strategic connectivity during the Eastern Partnership Business Forum 2025.

The aim of the event is to discuss broad economic cooperation between the EU and the partner countries, as well as to exchange experiences, establish business contacts and discuss investment opportunities and joint projects between entrepreneurs and governments within the EaP. 

Speaking on behalf of the European Commission, Ms Katarzyna Smyk, Head of the Commission Representation in Poland, emphasised the enduring value and adaptability of the Eastern Partnership: “Over the past decade, we have seen the tangible benefits of our cooperation — from free trade agreements and visa liberalisation to major infrastructure and investment projects. Our partnership is a win-win. But we must also adapt it to meet today’s geopolitical and economic challenges.”

She noted that "our response to uncertain times is to strengthen cooperation - better connections and connections in the region is one of the possible priorities to address challenges more effectively."

Key achievements of the Eastern Partnership to date were noted, including:

- A doubling of EU–EaP trade volumes (2017–2023)
- EUR 15.4 billion mobilised under the EU’s Economic and Investment Plan in support of access to finance for over 100,000 SMEs
- Major infrastructure projects like the East-West Highway in Georgia and Solidarity Lanes connecting Ukraine and Moldova to EU markets.

The session on Ukraine’s reconstruction, attended by Deputy Head of State Agency for Restoration and Development of Infrastructure of Ukraine, Roman Komendant, underscored priorities such as infrastructure rebuilding, support for war-affected communities, and expanded SME financing. Throughout this, the European Commission reaffirmed its commitment to a sustainable recovery fully aligned with Ukraine’s EU accession path.

In closing, a panel of public and private actors — including the EIB, EBRD, BGK, Ukrainian ECA, and CRH Poland — explored de-risking strategies and new public-private investment partnerships for the region.

Bringing together over 200 high-level delegates, including Deputy Ministers from Poland, Armenia, Moldova, and Ukraine, the event served as a critical platform for advancing dialogue on investment, resilience, and regional integration.

Experts from EU Member States and Eastern Partnership countries (Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Moldova, Ukraine, independent Belarusian businessmen) along with representatives from the European Commission, the OECD, the European Investment Bank (EIB), the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), and the Polish Development Bank (BGK) also participated.

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