EUSR`S Keynote Speech at the Think Tank Forum organised by the International Institute for Central Asia and the European Neighbourhood Council
Excellencies, friends, good morning, Assalomu alaykum Tashkent!
I am pleased to address you today. My thanks to Ambassador Vakhabov, to the International Institute for Central Asia, and to the European Neighbourhood Council for the kind invitation. Apologies for not joining you in person. But I am sure our paths will cross as I plan to visit region soon.
As you will know, I have taken up the role of the EU Special Representative recently, as of 1 of March. And it is my honour to work closely with all of you, to foster closer relations between the EU and Central Asia.
Today’s Forum is an opportunity to take stock of the achievements and to consider future steps. We are on the eve of the annual Ministerial meeting in Ashgabat and of the first-ever Summit in Samarkand, in two weeks. These milestone events serve as a catalyst to improve and deepen our joint work. And you – representatives of research, academia, business, and decision makers, bring valuable perspective. This Forum also connects experts and facilitates discussions which can feed into our policymaking. I therefore look forward to your thoughts and ideas today.
As you may know, my mandate is regional. I look at the cooperation between the Central Asian countries, and the regional cooperation with the EU. And as a Latvian with experience in Central Asia, I have cherished the unique cooperation we've developed. This relationship holds a special place in my heart, and I am committed to building upon the strong foundations we've established over the years.
And I want to praise the cooperation within the Central Asian countries, which has developed remarkably. On the highest level with the annual Consultative meetings and also across the sectors. Here, I wish to commend the Kyrgyz Republic and Tajikistan on finalizing the border agreement. It is a historic achievement, which clearly demonstrates the political will of the Central Asian countries to deepen their bilateral engagement. It also unlocks vast potential to strengthen intra-regional cooperation.
In parallel, our cooperation between the EU and Central Asia has also expanded significantly. With a closer collaboration, including in Water or Security and new areas, such as the Critical Raw Materials. And the increased number of high-level meetings prove the strategic importance of our relationship and mutual interest to increase it. For example, just yesterday Mr Jozef Síkela, the Commissioner for International Partnerships, concluded his seven day visit to all five Central Asian countries.
Colleagues, our cooperation is dynamic and expanding. Looking to the future, I see great potential. Today, you will discuss key areas of cooperation based on two important documents: the 2019 Strategy and the 2023 Joint Roadmap. I look forward to your insights and future discussions, hopefully in person. Thank you again and I wish you all fruitful discussions.
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