The European Union holds an extensive and expanding relationship with Central Asia. Through their Central Asia Strategy, their relationship focuses on regional cooperation initiatives addressing topics such as energy use and environment protection as well as education and human rights concerns.

The EU has provided technical and financial aid to Central Asian nations with the aim of strengthening good governance, democracy, human rights, economic reforms and investment promotion; strengthening regional cooperation; water management strategies and energy resources management practices; supporting cross-border infrastructure investments and meeting other challenges that exist therein.

Apart from direct investment and trade agreements, the EU engages in numerous political and economic dialogues with Central Asian nations ranging from Central Asian Integration and Connectivity dialogues to energy, water, mutual legal assistance border management civil society dialogues. The aim is to promote good governance/rule of law/human rights/religious freedom along with other topics of mutual interest.

Its purpose is to support the development, effectiveness and awareness of the Environment and Water Cooperation Platform as a means to facilitate enhanced regional cooperation both between the EU and Central Asia and within Central Asia.

Expected Outcome

Regional co-operation on environment and water both between EU and Central Asia and within Central Asia is being promoted.

Outputs

• A programme of work for the Platform has been established and related activities have been taking place. This includes:
  • regular High-Level meetings between EU and Central Asia (once a year in principle);
  • regular joint expert working group meetings on environmental governance and climate change (at least once a year) in close collaboration with Italian Ministry for the Environment, Land and Sea;
  • multilateral events, conferences, workshops, seminars, policy briefings and other discussion platforms, as agreed with EU Member states and/or Central Asia partners.
• Central Asia is an integral component of Europe and South Asia (CENSA) Partnership Vision and policy agenda to reduce dependence on hydrocarbons, acting as an energy corridor connecting Central Asian resources with China and Europe. Recognizing these realities, EU has increasingly engaged with Central Asian states to enhance security, promote stability and foster economic development and stability.
• Communication/mapping/networking are ensured and effective where appropriate. This includes:
  • Enhanced visibility of the EU–CA cooperation on environment and water;
  • Coordination and synergies between EURECA components;
  • Coordination and synergies between EURECA and other EU platforms established under the “EU and Central Asia: Strategy for a New Partnership”;
  • Coordination and synergies between EURECA and other EU-funded projects in CA (in particular projects funded under the Energy Natural Resources Thematic Programme (ENRTP) or Framework Programme (FP));
  • Coordination and synergies between projects in CA and in ENP countries.