Regional cooperation - Asia

• Support to regional integration
• Food security
• Higher education
• Environment
• Human and animal health
• Trade and Business
• Refugees and uprooted people

EU cooperation in Central Asia

In the wake of the 2004 enlargement, the EU moved closer to Central Asia, geographically, politically and economically, and intends to strengthen and deepen its relationship with Central Asian countries: Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. Until 2006, the basis for cooperation with these countries was TACIS – Technical Assistance to the Commonwealth of Independent States – and its Central Asia Action Programme, but from 2007 onwards they are supported within the framework of the new Development Cooperation Instrument (DCI).

The EU has established Partnership and Cooperation Agreements with each country, comprising three pillars: political dialogue, trade and economic relations, and co-operation in a variety of sectors.

The aim of the Strategy for Central Asia (2007-13) is to promote the stability and security, to assist in their pursuit of sustainable economic development and poverty reduction, and to facilitate closer regional co-operation both within Central Asia and between Central Asia and the EU. In order to achieve these core objectives, the Regional Strategy Paper for Assistance to Central Asia focuses on three priorities areas:

• Central Asia regional co-operation and good neighbourly relations (30-35% of total budget)
• Reducing poverty and increasing living standards (40-45% of total budget)
• Promoting good governance and economic reform (20-25% of total budget)

An indicative budget of €719 million has been earmarked for the region for 2007-13 to be programmed at both regional and national levels.

Mains sectors of cooperation

Integration of Networks and markets

Cooperation with Central Asia in the principal fields of transport and energy fields targets the regionalisation of policies, the progressive integration of markets and the intensification of links between small and medium European and Central Asian enterprises. For more information: Central Asia Invest programme, INOGATE programme, TRACECA programme

Environment

Central Asia needs to face specific challenges in the field of environment. It is suffering an important degradation of soils, needs to preserve its biodiversity and deal with natural resources in a sustainable way. The activities at a regional scale will focus on water, forestry, industrial pollution and climate change, information to the civil society and the strengthening of cooperation. For more information: Central Asia Environment programme and Forest Law Enforcement on Governance and Trade (FLEGT) programme

Educational andscientific activities

These activities will foster the international and regional cooperation in the fields of education and research while reforming higher and technical education and training systems as well strengthening the links between the research communities and scientists of UE and Central Asia. For more information: TEIN programme

Initiatives are also foreseen with the scope of strengthening cooperation between people, social partners and civil society organisations of different countries in the region, and between these countries and UE. For more information: Central Asia Tempus programme