Central Asia and the European Union improve cooperation mechanisms
Significant potential for cooperation, the growing market within the region and geographical location of Central Asia as a “major gateway between Europe and Asia” are among the reasons explaining the region’s importance for the EU, stated the EU special representative for Central Asia Peter Burian at the two-day inter-regional forum hosted by Kazakhstan.
The international conference "25 years of EU-Central Asia relations: from the past to the future" gathered in Astana over 150 delegates, including civil servants, international experts, representatives of the diplomatic corps, public organizations, international agecnies, civil society and business circles of the two regions.
The program of plenary, panel and technical sessions covered a wide range of topics that determine the course of European-Central Asian cooperation in the short- and long-term prospects in the political, trade-economic and humanitarian contexts.
During his remarks at the conference, Burian expressed satisfaction with the development of the partnership over a quarter-century period and noted that over the past two or three years it has gained a new content and dynamism thanks to a very proactive attitude of partners to inter- and intraregional cooperation.
Welcoming the significant progress made by the Central Asian countries in the creation of new socio-economic system, legal framework, reform programs and strategies for sustainable development, the EU special representative stressed that the region has managed to preserve and reinforce stability despite many challenges, including the challenging situation in neighbouring Afghanistan and climate change. He also praised the role of Central Asian in achieving stability and security in this country.
The forum discussed the further steps for ensuring of EU-CA cooperation in such areas as security challenges, gender equality, human growth, involvement of private sector, rule of law, advanced technologies.
The present dialogue is part of the ongoing process of updating the EU Strategy for Central Asia. The European Commission is expected to be present the new document by the end of next year.
The cost of project, so far realized by the European Union for the development and prosperity of the Central Asian region, has been estimated at US $ 1.2 billion.
