Your Excellencies, Chair, colleagues, 

Thank you for the presentations shared at the start of today’s event. Allow me to briefly highlight four points on this special occasion on behalf of the EU. 

First, I wish to convey the European Union’s congratulations to the Kyrgyz Republic, the Republic of Tajikistan, and the Republic of Uzbekistan on their historic achievements in peacefully settling their border disputes. The signing, in March this year, of the final agreement on the delimitation and demarcation of the Kyrgyz–Tajik border marks a major step for regional stability. Equally important is the Agreement on the Tri-Junction Point between Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, which is of particular significance for the regional development of the Fergana Valley. The EU commends the political will, regional ownership and joint commitment to dialogue that underpinned these processes.

Second, efforts to reflect the needs of border communities and to include them in decision processes are always important. This also reflects the EU’s commitment to ensuring that peacebuilding and regional cooperation deliver tangible benefits for the citizens most directly affected by them. This is also reflected in ongoing EU-funded initiatives on cross-border conflict stabilisation in the Central Asian region. 

Third, the region’s commitment to constructive dialogue, compromise, and regional solidarity demonstrates the value of regional ownership. In this context, we wish to also recognize the role played by the OSCE, as mentioned last week in the Security Council by the 2025 Chairperson-in-Office, the Foreign Minister of Finland, as well as by the UN Regional Centre for Preventive Diplomacy for Central Asia. 

Fourth, as we have recently successfully concluded the 2025 review of the UN peacebuilding architecture, it is worth emphasising the importance of sharing experiences and lessons learned such as this one. Beyond the congratulatory element of meetings such as this, the Peacebuilding Commission may draw useful lessons on the effective use of bilateral and trilateral mechanisms, as well as the significance of rules-based, structured, and inclusive confidence-building formats. In this context, the EU also underlines the important role of preventive diplomacy as a tool for conflict prevention and resolution. 

In conclusion, the EU stands ready to continue accompanying Central Asian partners as they consolidate trust between them, deepen regional cooperation, and further strengthen regional stability — fully in line with our shared strategic vision of a peaceful and prosperous region of Central Asia.

Thank you.