EU, Central Asia Unveil Joint Declaration Post-Summit
We, the Leaders of the European Union (EU), Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and of Uzbekistan, held our first EU-Central Asia Summit in Samarkand, Uzbekistan on 4 April 2025 and concluded the following:
1. Reaffirming our commitment to deeper cooperation in an evolving global and regional geopolitical landscape, we decided to upgrade relations between the European Union and Central Asia to a strategic partnership. We acknowledged the significant results achieved in recent years to strengthen dialogue and cooperation between our regions.
2. The EU reconfirmed its commitment to the goals of the EU Strategy on Central Asia of 2019. The Joint Roadmap for Deepening Ties between the EU and Central Asia adopted on 23 October 2023 in Luxembourg has been useful in operationalising the Strategy. We acknowledged the role of the EU-Central Asia high-level regional meetings of the Heads of State of Central Asia and the President of the European Council, held in Astana in 2022 and Cholpon-Ata in 2023, and the EU-Central Asia Ministerial meeting in Ashgabat on 27 March 2025 in taking stock of these commitments in preparation for this Summit. We welcomed the progress achieved and underscored the importance of maintaining its momentum.
3. We are committed to cooperate for peace, security and democracy, to fully respect international law, including the UN Charter and the fundamental principles of respect for the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of all States, within their internationally recognised borders. We emphasised the importance of achieving as soon as possible, a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in Ukraine in accordance with the principles of the Charter of the United Nations. We emphasised the need to uphold the principles of the OSCE by the participating States. We reconfirmed the obligation of all States to refrain in their international relations from the threat or use of force, to respect international humanitarian law and underlined the need for peaceful resolution of conflicts.
4. In the same context, we committed to respect the above principles, in particular the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all states within the framework of all international and regional fora, and to refrain from taking any steps that run contrary to those principles. In the same spirit, we reaffirmed our strong commitment to the relevant UNSC Resolution 541(1983) and 550 (1984). We emphasised that engagement in regional cooperation frameworks should fully respect these international principles, which remain essential to the enhancement of EU-Central Asia relations. In this context, Turkmenistan recalls that it applies its international commitments in strict accordance with the principles of its permanent neutrality status.
5. In an increasingly complex world, we expressed our readiness to address common security challenges through new possibilities of further engagement and to strengthen cooperation at bilateral, regional and multilateral level on cybersecurity and hybrid threats, Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) threats, preventing and countering radicalisation and terrorism, strengthening border security, and preventing drug trafficking and human trafficking. We agreed to initiate a dedicated Dialogue on counter terrorism and violent extremism and build societal resilience against disinformation.
6. We emphasised our strong commitment to see Afghanistan develop into a secure, stable and prosperous State with inclusive government and governance systems that respects the human rights and fundamental freedoms of all its citizens, including women, girls, persons belonging to ethnic and religious groups and minorities, is at peace with itself and its neighbours, and that respects its international obligations. We expressed our common concern over the humanitarian situation in Afghanistan and recognised the need to continue supporting the people of Afghanistan. We called for full and equal access to education conforming to international standards and participation in public life of women and girls in Afghanistan. In this regard, we supported the continuation of regular consultations of Special Representatives and Envoys of the Central Asian States and the EU.
7. Cooperation on preventing sanctions circumvention remains an important aspect of our relations. In this context, we agreed to continue cooperation on this issue, especially to avoid re-exports of common high priority items, in line with the work of the EU Special Envoy on Sanctions.
8. Significant efforts have been made to strengthen regional cooperation within Central Asia, overcoming challenges and fostering closer partnerships to ensure prosperity, sustainable development and to accelerate the energy transition and decarbonisation, strengthening stability, security, and good neighbourly relations. In this respect, the EU welcomed strengthened regional cooperation through regular Consultative Meetings of the Heads of State of Central Asia. The EU expressed its readiness to support ongoing and future actions in support of further regional integration.
9. The Leaders welcomed the signing in Bishkek on 13 March 2025 of the Treaty on the State Border between the Kyrgyz Republic and the Republic of Tajikistan which will contribute to peace and prosperity in the region
10. EU and Central Asian Leaders agreed that the deep and comprehensive cooperation between the two regions will be based on full implementation of the current and future bilateral Enhanced Partnership and Cooperation Agreements (EPCAs). In this context, the Leaders welcomed the signing of the Enhanced Partnership and Cooperation Agreement between the EU and the Kyrgyz Republic on 25 June 2024 and looked forward to the signing of the EPCAs between the EU and Uzbekistan, and between the EU and Tajikistan. We also acknowledged the interest of the EU and Kazakhstan to launch negotiations for a Visa Facilitation Agreement and a Readmission Agreement when their respective internal procedures for negotiating mandates are concluded and welcomed recent steps taken by the European Commission in this regard.
11. Strengthening trade and investment ties between Central Asia and the European Union is essential for economic growth, as well as developing and diversifying regional and interregional trade. To advance this agenda, we committed to regularly organise economic events, including the Central Asia–European Union Economic Forum fostering strategic dialogue and sustainable economic partnerships. This cooperation should be in line with the Global Gateway strategy, the EU’s external investment strategy, which will be scaled up in the years to come to further unlock the potential of our region-to-region relations.
12. Among many areas of shared interest, enhanced cooperation on critical raw materials is of strategic importance, aimed at ensuring secure, sustainable and diversified supply chains. We agreed that the Declaration of Intent endorsed at this Summit will deepen cooperation in this field, strengthening economic resilience, mutual prosperity and facilitating the transition to a green and digital economy.
13. The EU and Central Asia reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening sustainable transport connectivity as a driver of economic growth and regional integration. The mobilisation of EUR 10 billion in support and investments for Central Asia at the Global Gateway Investors’ Forum (January 2024) marks a pivotal step towards developing efficient regional transport corridors, logistics, networks, value chains and effective mechanisms to support mutual access to our respective markets. We additionally agreed to support the Coordination Platform for the Trans-Caspian Transport Corridor and critical infrastructure projects along the Middle Corridor, ensuring mutual market access and long-term cooperation. We also agreed on the importance of peace and stability in the South Caucasus as a prerequisite to the successful implementation of these projects.
14. With rising global temperatures, extreme weather events and environmental degradation, protecting our planet is not just an option but a necessity, and therefore full and effective implementation of the Paris Agreement requires our joint actions. In line with this commitment, we agreed to step up the fight against climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution. The EU welcomed the decision of all Central Asian partners to join the Global Methane Pledge.
15. Water is essential for the development and prosperity of Central Asia. Ensuring its sustainable and rational use is in the vital interest of all countries in the region. The EU and Central Asian Leaders agreed to continue to implement innovative approaches in water–energy cooperation to foster concrete and socially significant actions to protect and efficiently use water resources. We also agreed to strengthen cooperation and continue our partnership to improve the situation in the Aral Sea region and the entire Aral Sea basin. In this context, Leaders recognised the importance of both continuing the efforts to improve the work of IFAS to enhance its effectiveness and of the next IFAS Summit in Kazakhstan in 2026. Leaders took stock of preparations for the UN Ocean Conference, recognised the importance of the Dushanbe Water Process and acknowledged international initiatives such as the One Water Summit in 2024 as well as the UNGA Resolution on “Sustainable Mountain Development”.
16. The EU and Central Asian Leaders reiterated that the promotion and protection of rule of law, human rights and fundamental freedoms is a common fundamental value. Ensuring freedom of expression and association, an enabling environment for civil society and independent media, protection of human rights defenders as well as the respect for the rights of women, the rights of the child and labour rights remain at the core of EU–Central Asia relations. The EU reiterated its readiness to support efforts in this regard at regional as well as at national level.
17. The EU and Central Asian leaders agreed that the EU–Central Asia Civil Society Forum is a key platform for dialogue, advancing the objectives of the EU Strategy on Central Asia in strengthening the resilience and prosperity of societies, as well as regional cooperation through civil society engagement.
18. The role of the EU Special Representative for Central Asia was recognised to contribute to strengthening cooperation between the EU and Central Asia and in the region.
19. We agreed to build upon the outcomes of today’s Summit in Samarkand and the 20th EU–Central Asia Ministerial Meeting held in Ashgabat to further strengthen our partnership and enhance cooperation across all mutually beneficial areas, as outlined in the Annex to this Declaration.
20. We expressed our gratitude to the Government of Uzbekistan for successfully hosting the first EU–Central Asia Summit in Samarkand.
ANNEX: Deliverables in Sectoral Cooperation
Strengthening multilateralism
The Participants:
Addressing common security challenges
The Participants:
Enhancing economic ties, trade and investments
The Participants:
Engaging on energy, climate neutral economy, connectivity under the Global Gateway and cooperating on the European Green Deal
The Participants:
Strengthening people-to-people contacts and mobility
https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/statement_25_980