EUSR`s Speech at the Tashkent International Investment Forum

Excellencies,

Distinguished guests,

Ladies and gentlemen,

It is a pleasure to be in Tashkent and to participate in this year's Tashkent International Investment Forum.

I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the Government of Uzbekistan for hosting this important event and for bringing together policymakers, investors, financial institutions, and business leaders from across the world.

Today, I would like to speak about the evolving partnership between the European Union and Central Asia.

We believe that investment, connectivity, and sustainable infrastructure are central to our shared vision for prosperity and stability.

Ladies and gentlemen,

The relationship between the European Union and Central Asia has entered a new phase.

The year 2025 marked a historic milestone with the first EU–Central Asia Summit in Samarkand, which elevated our relationship to a Strategic Partnership, reflecting the growing political, economic, and geopolitical importance of our cooperation.

Since then, we have seen tangible progress.

We are witnessing growing interest across the region in developing closer and more structured relations with the European Union and similar, growing interest from the EU Member States.

The EU is Central Asia’s second trade and investment partner, and our relationship presents opportunities for further diversification and deepening of our trade and investment relations.

And our relations are anchored in a number of cooperation aspects: 

• Our Enhanced Partnership and Cooperation Agreements as bilateral legal frameworks, 

• The common work to improve the business environment and remove of trade barriers, 

• the possibilities for three Central Asian countries under the EU’s Generalised Scheme of Preferences, 

• as well as the support of the accessions of Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan to the World Trade Organisation.

Ladies and gentlemen,

The European Union's engagement in Central Asia is founded on partnership, respect, and shared interests.

We seek cooperation that delivers tangible benefits for citizens and businesses. 

We seek investments that create sustainable growth. 

And we seek connectivity that strengthens resilience, prosperity, and stability across our common neighbourhood.

The transformation we are witnessing in Central Asia today creates unprecedented opportunities for cooperation.

The European Union stands ready to continue working with all partners in the region to realise this potential.

Together, we can build stronger links between Europe and Central Asia, unlock new opportunities for trade and investment, and work to a more prosperous and connected future for our citizens.

Раҳмат (Thank you).
 

Suggested questions:

1. How does the European Union see Central Asia’s strategic role today in the context of global supply chain diversification, energy security and sustainable connectivity?

Undoubtedly, the role of Central Asia has grown significantly in recent years, and the European Union has been recognizing this increasing importance for many years, including through the formulation of a highly proactive approach in the form of the EU Strategy for Central Asia of 2019.

Also, in the context of evolving global supply chains, Central Asia's strategic importance continues to increase.

The European Union is committed to supporting the region's economic diversification, sustainable growth, and integration into international markets.

This commitment is being translated into concrete action through the Global Gateway strategy.

Global Gateway is the European Union's offer for sustainable and high-quality connectivity.

It is about building infrastructure, but it is also about creating opportunities, strengthening resilience, and supporting long-term development.

The success of connectivity is not measured only in kilometres of railway, roads, or transmission lines.

It is measured in the opportunities created for businesses, the jobs generated for citizens, and the trust built between countries.

A key example is our support for the Trans-Caspian Transport Corridor.

Together with our partners, international financial institutions, and the private sector, we are helping to transform the Corridor into a faster, more efficient, and more competitive route connecting Europe and Asia.

Additionally, to strengthen the Cross-Regional Connectivity Agenda of the European Union, The Connectivity Agenda Platform will be launched on 23 June, marking the de facto extension of the coordination mechanisms to the Black Sea and South Caucasus. 

This will achieve a coherent development framework along the entirety of the corridor. 

The Platform will, thereafter, meet bi-annually at senior-level, with an annual high-level meeting convening the responsible ministers of participating countries to discuss broad-based shared connectivity concerns.

2. What practical steps are needed to transform the EU–Central Asia political partnership into more visible investment and infrastructure projects on the ground?

In my opening remarks, I mentioned key areas presenting opportunities for establishing an even stronger partnership for trade and investment.

Let me elaborate on them as an answer to your question:

First of all, the EU’s Enhanced Partnership and Cooperation Agreements provide a robust legal framework to strengthen bilateral relations. 

These agreements promote mutual trade and investment, economic cooperation, and collaboration in energy, transport, and the environment. 

The EU-Uzbekistan EPCA is applied provisionally since 1 March 2026, marking a significant milestone in our relationship. 

This follows the EU-Kazakhstan EPCA, which has been in force for over 6 years now. 

Full implementation of the agreements, including those awaiting ratification and signature, will further facilitate trade, improve regulatory alignment, and create a more predictable business environment for investors.

This leads me to the second point, a predictable and supportive business environment. 

The EU is working with countries in Central Asia with the aim of improving the business environment and removing barriers to trade.

While progress has been made, some challenges such as, complex regulations, inconsistent enforcement remain, or in some cases corruption. 

The EU continues to engage with the respective authorities to address these issues, ensuring that the commitments under the EPCAs and the World Trade Organisation rules are fully implemented.

A more transparent and efficient business environment will attract greater investment and foster sustainable economic growth.

If we look at the EU’s Generalised Scheme of Preferences complements the non-preferential commitments in the EPCA by providing favourable access to the EU market.

The GSP+ arrangement, which Uzbekistan and the Kyrgyz Republic currently enjoy, is particularly valuable as it incentivises sustainable development and good governance. 

With the upcoming entry into force of the revised GSP in 2027, there will be an opportunity to reinforce our joint commitment for a more sustainable trade relationship.

Furthermore, the EU strongly supports the accession of Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan to the World Trade Organisation. 

WTO membership would further enhance trade predictability, reduce barriers, and provide a rules-based framework for trade and investment. 

Uzbekistan has made significant progress in its accession process and concluded the bilateral market access negotiations with the EU. 

And our trade and investment relationships rely on mutual trust. 

As a concrete example of our cooperation, the EU attaches importance to seeing secure and trusted digital infrastructure rollouts in partner countries. 

As our economies become more interconnected, secure and resilient networks are essential.

The EU’s approach is based on protecting critical infrastructure and reducing dependencies on high-risk suppliers to safeguard security and sovereignty.

For governments today, it is indeed necessary to take a strategic view on 5G.

Advanced connectivity is critical infrastructure and it will increasingly be an integrated part of key functions in government and the economy. 

In that regard, I want to flag the importance of technology choices made today. 

European companies can provide the secure, high-quality solutions needed for countries to maintain their digital sovereignty and safeguard national security. 

Secure digital connectivity also contributes to encouraging foreign investments to the economy. 

For example, 5G rollouts are important as an attractive gateway for European and global companies. 

By aligning with a global, open, and interoperable technology ecosystem, countries can encourage joint ventures, technology partnerships, and large-scale infrastructure projects, and reap the full benefits of our Strategic Partnership.

Another area where the EU and Central Asian countries have shared interests is critical raw materials (CRM). 

For our mutual benefit we should continue to work towards strengthening our cooperation in exploration, mining and processing, so we could build integrated, sustainable and resilient critical raw materials value chains.

3. How can the EU support Central Asian countries in strengthening regional cooperation so that connectivity projects benefit not only individual countries, but the region as a whole?

Indeed, one of the most encouraging developments in recent years has been the strengthening of regional cooperation within Central Asia itself.

The Consultative Meetings of Central Asian Heads of State have become an important platform for dialogue and coordination. 

Historic border agreements, growing trust among neighbours, and expanding regional cooperation have transformed the atmosphere across the region.

Initiatives such as the Fergana Peace Forum demonstrate a shared commitment to dialogue, mutual understanding, and people-to-people engagement.

We also welcome the increasingly close interaction between Central Asia and its neighbours across the Caspian Sea, including Azerbaijan's participation in regional formats and discussions.

This matters because regional cooperation is not only a political achievement; it is also an economic asset.

Investors seek predictability, stability, and connectivity.

The stronger the cooperation among countries, the more attractive the region becomes for international investment, trade, and business partnerships.

The European Union strongly supports regional efforts to strengthen energy security, develop renewable energy, and improve regional energy connectivity.

In this context, major projects such as Kambarata-1 and Rogun have the potential to contribute significantly to regional energy cooperation, sustainable development, and economic growth.

Likewise, cooperation on critical raw materials has become an increasingly important area of engagement.

Central Asia possesses significant resources that are essential for the global green and digital transitions.

Through partnerships based on sustainability, transparency, and mutual benefit, we can create value both for the region and for Europe.

The European Union is working closely with the European Investment Bank, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, and other international financial institutions to mobilise financing and expertise for strategic projects across the region.

At the same time, we are supporting not only hard infrastructure but also the regulatory, customs, and digital reforms that are essential for making connectivity truly effective.