European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President António Costa traveled all the way long to Samarkand, Uzbekistan, on 3-4 April to participate in the historic first
EU-Central Asia summit. The meeting brought together the EU leaders and the five Central Asian nations—Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan—to establish a new strategic partnership aimed at enhancing cooperation across various sectors.
Von der Leyen emphasized the EU's commitment to this partnership, stating, "Reliable partners have never been so important. Our Strategic Partnership is a commitment to be there for each other."
The Commission president introduced a €12 billion Global Gateway Investment Package designed to bolster cooperation in critical areas such as transport, energy, and digital connectivity. She elaborated on the allocation of these funds: "The first is transport. The aim is to bring our regions closer... The second element is climate, energy, and water... The third topic is digital... And finally, on the critical raw materials, the materials we all need to power the clean transition and clean economy of tomorrow."
Addressing the potential of Central Asia's natural resources, von der Leyen remarked, "These raw materials are the lifeblood of the future global economy. Yet they are also a honeypot for global players. Some are only interested in exploiting and extracting. Europe's offer is different. We also want to be your partners in developing your local industries."
The summit also underscored the importance of multilateral cooperation and adherence to international law. Leaders committed to respecting the principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity, with von der Leyen stating, "We are committed to cooperate for peace, security and democracy, to fully respect international law, including the UN Charter."
Central Asian leaders welcomed the EU’s renewed commitment to the region and emphasized the need for balanced, long-term cooperation. Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev called the summit “a historic milestone,” highlighting the irreversible transformation of Central Asia and the need for shared development. Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev urged pragmatic and responsible engagement in light of global challenges. Kyrgyz Deputy Prime Minister Edil Baisalov stressed the importance of finding “reliable partners” in an increasingly volatile international environment. The leaders collectively expressed hope that the new strategic partnership would boost regional connectivity, investment, and sovereignty.
