Shavkat Mirziyoyev, Ursula von der Leyen, and António Costa. Photo: Press Service of the President of Uzbekistan
Uzbekistan and the European Union have signed a new Enhanced Partnership and Cooperation Agreement. The signing ceremony took place on October 24 in Brussels in the presence of President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, European Council President António Costa, and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.
According to the press service of President Mirziyoyev, the document updates and significantly expands the legal framework of cooperation between Uzbekistan and the EU, which until now has been based on a similar agreement signed in 1996.
The new agreement consists of nine sections, 356 articles, and 14 annexes. It covers nearly all areas of bilateral relations, establishing a solid foundation for strengthening political dialogue and deepening cooperation across mutually beneficial fields such as trade and investment, sustainable development, science and education, innovation and high technology, environmental protection, and climate change.
The signing marks the beginning of a new stage in relations between Uzbekistan and the European Union, elevating their multifaceted partnership to an unprecedented level, the president’s press service stated.
A European Commission release also emphasized the importance of the new agreement, noting that it includes cooperation on the rule of law, human rights, and civil society. It also aims to strengthen collaboration on foreign policy and security issues, including conflict prevention, crisis management, risk reduction, cybersecurity, regional stability, disarmament, arms control, and export regulation.
“Today’s historic agreement opens a new chapter in EU–Uzbekistan relations. It represents a major step forward in our political, trade, and security ties. Human rights, engagement with civil society, and democracy will remain key elements of our closer cooperation,” said European Commission Vice President Kaja Kallas.
Negotiations on the new agreement began in 2019 and concluded in 2022. The document was initialed in Brussels on July 6, 2022, ahead of its official signing.
