Central Asia
Mogherini’s tarnished legacy
Paradoxically it was the EU’s closest partner, the United States, that has done most to damage Federica Mogherini's legacy as High Representative with a full-scale assault on the EU’s commitment to multilateralism, writes Fraser Cameron.
China to recalibrate Belt and Road, defend it against Western criticism
China is expected to promote a recalibrated version of its Belt and Road initiative at a summit of heads of state this week in Beijing, seeking to allay criticism that its flagship infrastructure policy fuels indebtedness and lacks transparency.
Kazakhstan to hold early presidential elections on 9 June
Kazakhstan's President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev set on Tuesday (9 April) the date for the early presidential election for 9 June and said the vote was “absolutely needed” to ensure “continuity, predictability and stability” after the long-serving President Nursultan Nazarbayev resigned.
Narbaeva: Uzbekistan is determined to reform and put an end to negative stereotypes
Tanzila Narbaeva, the Deputy Prime Minister of Uzbekistan, told EURACTIV about her country's efforts to develop modern agriculture, eliminate child or forced labour and invest in human capital, especially women.
Kazakhstan stunned: President Nazarbayev surprisingly resigns
Kazakhstan's first and only president so far, Nursultan Nazarbayev, surprisingly resigned on Tuesday (19 March) and announced that the Speaker of the Senate, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, will serve as interim leader before the next presidential election.
Kazakh Minister: Growing interest for next round of Astana talks
The next round of talks under the so-called Astana Process will take place next month, and there is a growing international interest for this forum, First Deputy of the Foreign Minister of Kazakhstan Mukhtar Tileuberdi told EURACTIV in an exclusive interview.
Italy to join China’s New Silk Road infrastructure plan
Italy is set to become the first member of the ‘Group of Seven’ most powerful nations to join China’s infrastructure plan “One Belt, One Road” (OBOR), despite the heightened scrutiny of Beijing’s investment in Europe.
European Parliament endorses free trade agreement with Singapore
The European Parliament approved on Wednesday (13 February) the EU-Singapore Free Trade Agreement (EUSTFA), the bloc's first bilateral trade agreement with a southeast Asian country.
Commission reacts to Russian transit ban via Ukraine
A Commission official said on Wednesday (30 January) that the EU executive questioned the coherence of the Eurasian economic union, because of the Russia-imposed embargo on the transit of a range of Ukrainian goods through its territory, in effect foreclosing access to export markets in Central Asia.
EU-Kazakhstan relations: From security issues to regional cooperation
2019 is an important year for EU-Kazakhstan relations, in anticipation of the full entry into force of the Enhanced Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (EPCA) between Kazakhstan and the EU.
Kazakhstan advocates closer ties between EU and Eurasian Economic Union
A senior official from Kazakhstan, one of the five members of the Russia-led Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), has called for greater cooperation between EEAU and the EU, ultimately aiming to create a single economic space from the Atlantic to Pacific. But a Commission spokesperson made clear it could only be a long-term goal, depending on political developments.
A US-Russia-China-EU summit? EU is interested
The EU is taking seriously the idea expressed recently by the President of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev for holding a four-way summit to defuse global tensions, an EU diplomat told an audience on Tuesday (4 December).
Brussels ministerial paves the way to launching EU Central Asia strategy
The European Union is expected to define its strategy for Central Asia in early 2019. A preparatory meeting between the EU and the foreign ministers of the five Central Asian countries (Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan) took place in Brussels on Friday (23 November).
Uzbekistan announces ambition to become major tourist destination
Uzbek officials and foreign guests issued a clear message on Monday (19 November) that developing tourism has become a major priority for Uzbekistan, a landlocked country in Central Asia with great landscapes and a very rich historical heritage.
Kazakhstan suggests hosting OSCE forum to bolster global security
The president of Kazakhstan, Nursultan Nazarbayev, has warned of a risk to post-World War II order and proposed that his country host a conference of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) in 2020 with the purpose of “updating” the 1975 Helsinki Final Act of the then CSCE.
EU visa facilitation for Kazakhstan will be a win-win story
There is nothing to be feared from putting in place visa facilitation for Kazakh citizens.
Brussels’ approach to Greater Eurasia in need of revision
It’s curious that the EU’s initiative “Connecting Europe and Asia” makes no mention of two of its most important players – the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) and the Chinese “Belt and Road” Initiative, writes Yuri Kofner.
Kazakhstan and the Venice Commission
The Council of Europe’s Venice Commission has provided precious support to the process of constitutional and legislative change in Kazakhstan, writes Igor Rogov.
EU-Kazakhstan: Visa facilitation on the agenda
Kazakhstan doesn’t represent a migration challenge for the EU, and visa facilitation for its nationals going to Europe can be only beneficial for both sides.
Russia, Uzbekistan hail $11 billion nuclear plant project during Putin visit
Russia and Uzbekistan on Friday (19 October) hailed the construction of an $11 billion nuclear power plant that should help solve an energy deficit in the Central Asian country while binding it tighter to Moscow politically.
EU spearheads multilateralism at ASEM summit
European leaders sought to build support from Asia on Thursday (18 October) in defence of free trade and the fight against climate change, to counter the growing protectionism of President Donald Trump's America.
Elmar Mammadyarov : Azerbaijan’s EU relation is of strategic nature
In a wide-ranging interview, the Foreign Minister of Azerbaijan Elmar Mammadyarov discussed his country’s relations with the EU, major energy and transport projects, the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and relations with global players.
Nazarbayev: Partnership in Eurasia can strengthen the world system
Exclusive: Two days ahead of the Asia-Europe meeting (ASEM) which will bring together heads of state and government of 51 European and Asian countries, the President of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev offered his comments on a wide range of issues.
