Emil Avdaliani
On October 24, Uzbekistan and the European Union signed an Enhanced Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (EPCA). The agreement is far more expansive than what governed the Brussels–Tashkent relations since bilateral cooperation was officially established in 1999 (European Council, October 24). The previous engagement framework no longer addressed today’s challenges, and both sides urgently needed an upgrade. Uzbekistan has grown economically, Central Asia has become more important, and the European Union is eager to diversify its energy dependence.
The expanding ties between Uzbekistan and the European Union are indicative of a changing approach in Brussels’s foreign policy. The European Union has become increasingly adaptable to the needs of each Central Asian country. In many ways, this mirrors how the People’s Republic of China (PRC), Russia, and, more recently, the United States have engaged with Central Asia. The November summit between the United States and the five Central Asian countries is a good example of this developing trend (Novaya Gazeta, November 14). To highlight the growing attention the European Union now pays to Central Asia, the EPCA follows the Central Asia–European Union summit held in April in Samarkand, during which Brussels pledged around 12 billion euros (about $13.9 billion) within its Global Gateway framework for infrastructure development in the region (European Commission, April 3; Invexi, April 4).
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