EU Strategy for Central Asia presented

On July 7, the 15th European Union Central Asia Foreign Ministers meeting was held at the Ala-Archa State Residence with the participation of Federica Mogherini, High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy.

The new EU strategy for the countries of Central Asia, approved on June 17 this year, was presented at the meeting.

Kyrgyzstan launched an initiative to hold the first EU – Central Asia economic forum in early 2020. The forum could become a mechanism for effective trade and economic cooperation between the European Union and the Central Asian countries.

The European Union will continue to support economic reform and investment in the region. The EU will support the Central Asia countries to become more active participants in the WTO, said Mogherini.

On July 6, Federica Mogherini arrived in Kyrgyzstan on an official visit. At the meeting with Foreign Minister Chingiz Aidarbekov, a new agreement on expanded partnership and cooperation between Kyrgyzstan and the European Union was initialed.

The new agreement provides for cooperation between Kyrgyzstan and the EU in the areas of policy and reforms, expanded cooperation in foreign policy and security issues, in the spheres of justice, security and freedoms, as well as trade.

A financial agreement on the education program for 2019–2021 worth 35.76 million euros was also signed.