Crossroads Asia

Central Asia ‘Extremely Important’ to the European Union

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Crossroads Asia

Central Asia ‘Extremely Important’ to the European Union

EU representative met recently with regional foreign minister in Astana.

Central Asia ‘Extremely Important’ to the European Union
Credit: Flickr/Bob

With the signing of the Enhanced Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (EPCA) between the European Union and Kazakhstan on December 21 in Astana, the EU has elevated its relations with Central Asia’s largest economy. The EPCA took more than three years to negotiate and will replace the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement that has governed relations since 1999. It is the first of a new generation of cooperation agreements between the EU and the former Soviet states of Central Asia.

Federica Mogherini, the EU’s high representative for foreign affairs and security policy and vice-president of the European Commission, was in Astana to chair the 11th EU-Central Asia Ministerial Meeting. Attended by foreign ministers from Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan, along with the Kazakh hosts, the meeting yielded no big surprises.

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