EU supports evidence-based dialogue on migration and mobility in Uzbekistan

30 June 2026 – A roundtable on “Migration and Mobility in Transition: Challenges and Opportunities for Uzbekistan” was held today at Westminster International University in Tashkent under EU-funded regional project PROTECT: Improving Migration Management and Migrant Protection in selected Silk Routes and Central Asian Countries, implemented by the International Centre for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD).

The event brought together representatives of universities, research institutions, public authorities, civil society organisations and migration practitioners to discuss migration trends and their implications for Uzbekistan’s socio-economic development. Discussions covered labour mobility, migration dynamics in Central Asia, remittance flows, human capital development, and migration governance.

“The Migrant Resource Centre in Tashkent, established in August 2025, stands as a testament to what national institutions, international partners, and local actors can achieve together: practical solutions that empower individuals and communities.,” said Ms Renata Wrobel, Deputy Head of the EU Delegation to Uzbekistan. We are committed to advancing cooperative, human-centred approaches to migration and mobility, because no single actor can address these challenges alone.

The roundtable reaffirmed the European Union’s support for informed, safe and regular migration governance in Uzbekistan and across Central Asia through practical cooperation, awareness-raising and multi-stakeholder dialogue. It also highlighted the growing need for reliable migration information amid rising online recruitment, misinformation and fraudulent employment schemes affecting prospective migrants and their families. By bringing together researchers, policymakers and practitioners, the roundtable helped advance regional discussion on migration, mobility and development in Central Asia, while strengthening cooperation between academic institutions, public authorities and civil society partners.

Background:

PROTECT project is funded by EU and implemented by ICMPD, is an initiative aimed at improving migration management and migrant protection across selected Silk Route and Central Asian countries. Running from 2023 to 2026, the project with total budget of 9 million euros focuses on all phases of migration by empowering migrants and strengthening national capacities