On the sidelines of the Foreign Affairs Council, ministers participated in the 19^th EU-Central Asia ministerial meeting, together with the foreign ministers of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan.

The parties jointly endorsed the EU-Central Asia Roadmap for Deepening Ties between the EU and Central Asia and discussed how to advance inter-regional cooperation on common security challenges, connectivity, economic and trade, environment, water and climate, education, science and innovation issues, and people-to-people contacts, promoting deeper ties between the EU and Central Asia.

Ministers conveyed the EU’s strong commitment to Central Asia, in the context of the challenges emerging from regional dynamics, with a focus on the fall-out of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine and the situation in Afghanistan.

Today’s meeting of Foreign Ministers confirms a new level of cooperation between our regions. In a world confronted with demanding challenges, but also new opportunities, we know that we can achieve more when we act together.

The parties reaffirmed their regions’ determination to uphold the United Nations Charter and the fundamental principles of international law. Ministers stressed the need to cooperate effectively to prevent circumvention of EU sanctions against Russia across Central Asian territories.

The 19th European Union-Central Asia Ministerial Meeting concluded with the formal signing of a Joint Communiqué.