The EU has been engaged with the Central Asian region since the early years of independence, gradually increasing its presence and broadening the areas for dialogue and cooperation. A first EU Strategy for Central Asia was adopted in 2007, setting out priorities for EU engagement in the region.

The European Commission adopted on 15 May 2019 a Joint Communication on The EU and Central Asia: New Opportunities for a Stronger Partnership, which will be endorsed by EU Member States as new EU Strategy on Central Asia on 17 June 2019. This new EU Strategy aims to reflect the positive developments which have taken place in the region and the new momentum in regional cooperation.

The Joint Communication on the new EU Strategy on Central Asia proposes to focus future EU engagement on two aspects: 1) partnering for resilience by strengthening Central Asian states' capacity to overcome internal and external shocks and enhancing their ability to embrace reform and 2) partnering for prosperity by supporting economic modernization, promoting sustainable connectivity, and investing in youth. In addition, the Strategy emphasizes the EU's commitment to support efforts towards regional cooperation and the need to link up more closely the EU's approach to the region with its strategy on Afghanistan.

At the most recent EU-Central Asia Ministerial Meeting held in November 2018, the Central Asian Foreign Ministers confirmed the new atmosphere and positive dynamics in the region and reaffirmed their commitment to step up their relationship with the EU. The new EU Strategy will be aligned with other EU Strategies and key policies, and will be able to better take into account new regional dynamics and reflect the new realities, evolving needs, and priorities of our Central Asian partners through a comprehensive approach. The Strategy will be able to present the EU as a reliable partner in the reform and transformation efforts of its Central Asian partners.

The new EU Strategy proposes to further involve representatives of civil society, private sector, media, and researchers in the EU-Central Asia partnership. It emphasises the importance of delivering benefits for all sectors of society.

Therefore, in connection with the launch of the new EU Strategy on Central Asia, the EUSR for Central Asia and the EEAS, with support from the European Commission (DG DEVCO), organise a regional event, the EU-Central Asia Forum, to take place on July 5-6 in Bishkek, back-to-back with the 15th EU-Central Asia Ministerial Meeting.

The aim of the event is to build on the positive experience from the inclusive consultation processes that have informed the new EU Strategy and create a new forum for dialogue between different interlocutors on how to best utilize the existing bilateral and regional programs that exist between the EU and the Central Asian countries. Another important objective of the event is to increase the understanding of EU objectives and values in the region and to strengthen EU visibility. Last but not least it is important for the governments, civil society and private sector to learn to dialogue with each other. The event can also be used for sharing experiences between EU Member States and the countries of Central Asia.

The Forum will bring together around 100 participants from both the EU and Central Asia, representing grassroots civil society, particularly women and youth as agents of change, the private sector, researchers, media, as well as the governments (expert level), to have in-depth discussions on various aspects of implementation of the new Strategy focusing on the role and contribution of different actors. Discussion at the Forum is expected to generate ideas and useful feedback on existing and future bilateral and regional programs and areas for intensified interregional cooperation and dialogue. The Forum will provide ideas and recommendations to inform the following discussion of the EU-Central Asia Ministerial Meeting.

The Forum will be divided into an opening plenary with presentations of the EU on the new Strategy on Central Asia, two thematic sessions focusing on priorities defined by the new Strategy, strengthening resilience and taking forward the prosperity agenda, and a high-level concluding session presenting possible feedback in view of the EU-Central Asia Ministerial Meeting. A networking session will be organised for panellists and participants of the Forum in the lead-in phase in the afternoon of July 5.