International Conference "25 years of EU-Central Asia Relations: From the Past to the Future" started its work in Astana

22 February, 2018 15:52

Today in the capital of Kazakhstan, a two-day international conference "25 years of EU-Central Asia Relations: From the Past to the Future" has begun. The conference is organized by the Delegation of the European Union to Kazakhstan.

More than 150 delegates take part in the conference, amongst them are diplomats, recognized international and domestic experts: Krzysztof Strachota, Head of Department for the Study of Turkey, Caucasus and Central Asia of the Center for Oriental Studies (Poland); Nicolas de Pedro, expert of the Barcelona Center for International Relations (Spain); Muzaffar Olimov, Head of SHARQ Research Center (Tajikistan); Emilbek Juraev (Kyrgyzstan); Botir Tursynov, Institute for Strategic and Interregional Studies (Uzbekistan); Elaine Konkievich, representative of the UN Women; Helen Dubok, expert for gender studies in Central Asia; Alma Kassymova, Director for Kazakhstan of the EBRD program "Small Business Consultations"; Yerzhan Saltybaev, Director of the Institute of World Economy and Politics; TV presenter Lyaila Sultankyzy, journalist Madi Mambetov and others.

The plenary session has been addressed by Minister of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan, Kairat Abdrakhmanov; Chairman of the Committee on Foreign Relations, Defense and Security of the Senate of the Parliament of Kazakhstan Dariga Nazarbayeva, and EU Special Representative for Central Asia, Peter Burian. Individual country reports will also be presented by the heads of the EU delegations to Central Asia: EU Ambassador to Kazakhstan, Traian Hristea; EU Ambassador to Uzbekistan, Eduards Stiprais; Charge d'Affaires of the EU in Kyrgyzstan Jaap Ora, and Head of the Policy Section of the EU Delegation to Tajikistan, Margus Solson.

“The common goal of achieving stability and prosperity through peaceful interaction has for a quarter of a century been uniting the EU and Central Asia and making them partners in many fields, including political cooperation and economic development. Such a long-term partnership opens up broad prospects for the parties in implementing new projects aimed at political stability and economic prosperity of the Central Asian region”, Mr. Peter Burian, EU Special Representative for Central Asia, noted.

Four thematic sessions will be held during the conference, whereby participants will discuss topical issues on common security challenges for Europe and Central Asia, gender equality and human development in the Central Asian region, EU-Kazakhstan trade and investment cooperation, and recommendations for the draft of the new EU Strategy for Central Asia.

Within the session “Common security challenges for EU and Central Asian countries: the human dimension of security”, the experts will discuss terrorism, violent extremism, drug trafficking, organized crime and migration issues. One of the key ways to prevent modern security threats is the observance of human rights and democratic institutions.

The session “Gender equality and human development in Central Asia”, moderated by UN Women representative, Elaine Konkievich, will consider the key role of gender equality and elimination of discrimination against women and children in accelerating sustainable development. The main results of the Gender Study on Central Asia for 2017, prepared with the financial support of the European Commission, will be the starting point of the discussion.

Within the session “EPCA - the new generation of partnership agreements with the EU: trade and business”, the participants will discuss the implementation of the Enhanced Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (EPCA), which is the most important document signed between the EU and Kazakhstan, especially in terms of trade and investment. The EU undertook a comprehensive study (gap analysis) to assist in the smooth implementation and monitoring of the implementation of the EPCA chapters on trade and business in areas such as trade in goods, public procurement, intellectual property rights, technical barriers to trade, sanitary and phytosanitary measures, as well as customs.

The purpose of the session “The new EU Strategy for Central Asia: consultation with Kazakhstan” is to discuss the prospects for relations between the EU and Central Asian countries in general, and in particular with Kazakhstan. Particular attention will be paid to the reform process in Kazakhstan and its vision of regional integration and cooperation in Central Asia. The session will consist of two consecutive panel discussions. The results of the discussions will contribute to the drafting of a new EU strategy for the region by 2019.

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