EUSR`s Opening & Closing Speech at the Team Europe Initiative EU – Central Asia High-Level Meeting on Water, Energy, and Climate Change

Distinguished Ministers, Excellencies, dear colleagues,

It is my great pleasure to open this High-Level Dialogue on strengthening regional cooperation on water, energy, and climate in Central Asia.

Allow me first to extend my sincere gratitude to our Kazakh hosts for their warm hospitality at this Regional Ecological Summit and my thanks to my co-chairs.

I would also like to warmly welcome ministers and participants from Central Asian and European states, whose engagement today reflects the strong political will across our regions to address shared challenges together.

We firmly believe that the global challenges of climate change, sustainable energy transition, environmental protection and water management require international cooperation and joint commitment.

No state or region can tackle these challenges alone. 

As we move towards achieving the goals of the Paris Agreement and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the EU continues to lead by example—advancing ambitious climate policies at home, promoting a just energy transition, and supporting our partners worldwide in building resilience and sustainability.

Cooperation on water, energy, and climate lies at the heart of sustainable regional development and peace.

These issues should not be seen as problems but carry a strong potential for partnership, innovation, and trust-building.

The EU supports multilateral frameworks that foster dialogue and shared solutions, recognising that sustainable water management and energy cooperation can serve as a catalyst for regional stability and prosperity.

In this spirit, I am pleased to recall the high-level political momentum achieved in our relations, notably through the EU–Central Asia Summit.

These meetings have strengthened the bridge between the EU and Central Asia, reinforcing our shared vision of a green, connected, and resilient future.

Our Team Europe Initiative on Water, Energy, and Climate brings together EU institutions, Member States and Financial Institutions to support this vision in practical terms. 

The TEI for Water, Energy and Climate is the largest Global Gateway Initiative in Central Asia through which we are actively investing in our common climate response, investing in mitigation and resilience as well as in clean energies, notably hydropower.

The EU closely works together with European Banks and International Financing Institutions such as the World Bank, and I would like to welcome their representatives today.

The TEI exemplifies the best of our partnership—pooling resources, aligning strategies, and delivering long-term benefits for people and ecosystems across the region.

I look forward to today’s dialogue as a step forward in deepening our common work for a sustainable and secure future for all.

Thank you.

Closing speech of the TEI EU-CA High-Level Meeting on Water, Energy, and Climate Change

Excellencies, colleagues,

As we conclude this High-Level Meeting, I want to thank our Kazakh hosts and all of you for your engagement in today’s critical discussions.

The water-energy-climate nexus is at the heart of our shared future, and your contributions have shown that regional cooperation is the only path forward.

Our exchanges – on water security, energy transition, climate resilience, and investments – have highlighted the urgency of integrated action and mobilizing financial instruments.

Your contributions have reinforced what we already know: that water, energy, and climate are not just challenges to be managed, but opportunities to be seized – together.

The Joint Conclusions we adopted today are a testament to this commitment.

They build on the Global Gateway strategy, the Paris Agreement, and our shared vision for a sustainable, secure Central Asia.

Today’s meeting in Astana is a further step in enhancing our cooperation in energy, water, and climate following the first EU-Central Asia summit in April 2025. 

The Team Europe Initiative is the largest EU initiative in Central Asia, underpinned by €4.8 billion in concrete water, renewables, and climate projects.

We are proud to good work with our Central Asian partners to increase water cooperation and to support the green transition of energy systems in the region.

And this initiative is already delivering.

From Global Gateway flagship hydropower projects like Rogun and Kambarata-1 to climate-smart infrastructure, we are turning commitments into action.

The mobilisation of financial instruments—through the EBRD, EIB, and our Member States—will ensure these priorities become reality.

But our work does not end here, and the TEI Steering Committee and our thematic working groups will continue to drive implementation.

The EU remains a steadfast partner, offering capacity-building, technology transfer, and aligned financing to support Central Asia’s transition.

Today, we have shown that Europe and Central Asia are allies in building a greener, more resilient future. 

Thank you for your leadership. Let us move forward with determination and unity.