Photo: eeas.europa.eu
The first European Union – Central Asia summit will take place on April 3–4, 2025, in Samarkand, the press service of the EU Delegation to Uzbekistan announced.
The summit will be chaired by Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev and attended by the leaders of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan. The European Union will be represented by European Council President António Costa and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.
According to the press service, the event will be a key opportunity for the EU to demonstrate its geopolitical interest in deepening engagement and expanding regional cooperation with Central Asia. The EU is expected to reaffirm its commitment to enhancing cooperation in areas of mutual interest, including transport, digital connectivity, strategic raw materials, economy, security, and energy.
“We live in a world of chaos and fragmentation, where the only viable solution for the EU is to strengthen partnerships for peace and prosperity. In a multipolar world, more active and targeted engagement is essential. The first EU – Central Asia summit will reinforce our commitment to working together for peace, security, and sustainable development, in full compliance with international law,” said António Costa.
The first EU – Central Asia summit was initially planned for spring 2024 but was postponed. According to EU Special Representative for the region Terhi Hakala, the delay was due to the transition period following the European Parliament elections and the formation of the new EU leadership.
A ministerial meeting to prepare for the summit will be held on March 4 in Ashgabat.
The press service of the EU Delegation to Uzbekistan highlighted that the EU is the second-largest trading partner of Central Asia and the region’s largest investor, accounting for more than 40% of total investments. To further strengthen bilateral ties, the EU has agreed on Enhanced Partnership and Cooperation Agreements (EPCAs) with all Central Asian countries except Turkmenistan.
