EU-Central Asia Summit in Samarkanda: First the economy

The first European Union-Central Asia Summit was held on 3–4 April in Samarkanda, with the participation of EU Heads of Institutions and Presidents of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. The EU side was represented by the Head of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Council António Costa and Vice-President of the European Investment Bank (EIB) and president of the European Bank for Reconstruction and improvement (EBRD). A joint declaration published after the summit announced raising the relation between each another to the rank of "strategic partnership", emphasising cooperation in the exploration of critical natural materials (signed letter of intent), transport, green energy and satellite communications. EU representatives have announced an investment package worth EUR 12 billion to implement projects in these areas. The EIB besides signed 4 memoirs with Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan for infrastructure and environmental projects under the EU Global Gateway Strategy, worth €365 million.

The leaders of the EU and Central Asia countries have advocated "the attainment of fair and lasting peace in Ukraine" and respect for territorial sovereignty and integrity as a rule of global relations. The EU has besides supported efforts to stabilise the situation in Afghanistan by Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan within the UN. A dialog on countering terrorism and extremism and disinformation was besides declared.

The summit dominated economical issues, reflecting the evolution of the EU approach and is in line with the expectations of the Central Asian countries.The axis of the relation is simply a point cooperation, especially natural material and transport, reinforced after Russia's full-scale aggression to Ukraine. The EU offer does not undermine the close relations of the countries of the region with Russia and China, but diversifys them. In this sense it is feasible.

Comment

• The summit gives fresh impetus to the relations between the EU and the countries of Central Asia, bilitating cooperation with financial resources. For the countries of the region, the current weakness in the EU's offer of cooperation, in contrast to crucial associate States specified as Germany and France, was a tiny investment component, conditional on advancement in the democratisation of authoritarian governments. Exposing European financial institutions in Samarkand is an effort to change this state (in 2024 EBRD invested evidence €2.26 billion in 121 projects in the region). An crucial decision is the establishment of an EIB regional representation in Uzbekistan. The issue of democratisation, referred to as "core", was not raised as a condition for cooperation. However, advancement in this area will foster the improvement of relations on a "more for more" basis. Controversial wording regarding their close relations with Russia and China, including security, was besides avoided for the countries of the region. erstwhile again, they have declared cooperation in preventing the circumvention of sanctions utilizing the territory of the region (without listing FR as beneficiary), with an emphasis on re-export of goods.
• The summit confirms the evolution of the EU-Central Asia relation and the precedence of the economical dimension. This direction was strengthened between 2022 and 2023 (see Crisis as an opportunity. A fresh phase of EU-Central Asia relations). The countries of the region, notably Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, have become more crucial partners for the EU and its own countries by expanding oil and uranium exports. This enabled their cautious attitude towards the war in Ukraine. The improvement field of cooperation is the critical natural materials sector (e.g. manganese ore, cobalt, lithium) – their resources in the region, unlike oil depositsor uranium, have not yet been the subject of intense competition. For the EU, their acquisition is crucial in connection with energy transition plans. It proposes a model of cooperation creating jobs with technology transfer, which is desirable by the countries of the region. The transport of natural materials would take place on the Trans-Caspian global Transport Route, the alleged Central Corridor, bypassing Russia.
• The fresh investment package expands the Global Gateway strategy aimed at Central Asia, in line with the assumptions of the European Green Deal and the EU Action Plan on Critical Materials. This package foresees the allocation of EUR 6.4 billion for environmental projects, including hydro-energy projects, 3 billion for the improvement of the Central Corridor, 2.5 billion for projects concerning exploration and extraction of critical natural materials and 100 million for satellite communications. This appropriation is intended to cover the following: In early June, a joint investment forum will be held in Uzbekistan to engage in this business process. For the success of these projects, the implementing aspect and the deficiency of action aimed at this cooperation by Russia and China will be crucial. For the countries of the region, they stay the most crucial mention points – FR in the political and safety dimension and the PRC as the main trading partner whose political impact is increasing.