The first-ever EU-Central Asia summit will focus on diversifying trade exchanges away from Russia and China and boosting diplomatic ties. The European Commission’s Ursula von der Leyen and Antonia Costa, president of the European Council, will lead the discussions, with a focus on energy and critical raw materials partnerships with the resource-rich region. Central Asian leaders will aim to secure investments in their industries and infrastructure as well. The agenda also includes multilateralism, joint and regional security challenges, cooperation in clean energy, tourism, people-to-people programs, and Ukraine. The goal is to reconnect with global partners in a multipolar world.
One of the key drivers of the summit is the shared goal of diversifying away from Russia and China. The EU aims to challenge Chinese and Russian dominance in certain sectors, especially on raw materials and connectivity. Central Asia is developing renewable energy production and has significant deposits of critical raw materials. The EU seeks to secure rare earths needed for its energy transition and boost its strategic autonomy, while providing investments to help develop the region’s industry. Central Asian countries are also looking for industrial partnerships to expand exports to the EU, but face logistical challenges in reaching European markets.
Transport links, particularly the Trans-Caspian Transport Corridor, will be a major focus at the summit. The EU has committed €10 billion to the Middle Corridor as part of its Global Gateway Initiative. However, infrastructure projects in the Central Asian countries alone require €18.5 billion in investment. A new Investors Forum dedicated to the corridor may be announced, with additional financing seen as crucial for success. Soft connectivity challenges, such as regulatory harmonization and border inefficiencies, also need to be addressed.
Human rights and sanctions circumvention will be delicate subjects at the summit. Central Asian countries aim to forge closer ties with the West without alienating Moscow or Beijing. For the EU, it is about striking deals with authoritarian regimes in Russia’s vicinity while maintaining pressure on Moscow. Russian sanction circumvention will be raised at the summit, as some countries in the region have benefited by selling European-made items to Russia. Maintaining credibility on human rights issues will also be a challenge for the EU, as Human Rights Watch has called for calling out Central Asian governments for clamping down on dissent and tightening controls over freedom of expression.
The EU is taking a pragmatic approach to human rights issues, focusing on dialogue and engagement with Central Asian countries to address concerns. The EU aims to work with these countries to improve the situation through interaction and dialogue. However, some experts believe that the EU does not have significant leverage over these countries on human rights issues. The Commission may provide more funding for civil society but is ultimately focused on pragmatic approaches under von der Leyen’s leadership. The summit will be an opportunity for both sides to discuss a wide range of issues and seek to deepen their partnerships in various sectors.
