Javlon Vakhabov and Alouddin Komilov
On April 3-4, delegations from the European Union and the five Central Asian nations will convene in Samarkand for the first-ever Central Asia-European Union Summit. This landmark gathering takes place amid a complex new phase in international relations, characterized by growing unpredictability, erosion of international norms, economic weaponization, and intensifying climate challenges.
What makes this summit particularly significant is the participation of the EU’s new top leadership, including European Council President António Costa and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. Their presence underscores that this is not just another diplomatic forum but a strategic opportunity to deepen cooperation between two regions that currently share an unprecedented convergence of interests, challenges, and aspirations.
Central Asia — strategically located at the crossroads of Europe and Asia — has traditionally been a region where the EU plays a secondary role, often overshadowed by larger regional powers and constrained by limited resources. However, as a benign actor, the EU possesses comparative advantages that position it to play a transformative role, particularly in fostering connectivity in the fields of digital infrastructure, transportation, and green energy. These areas align not only with the EU’s strategic priorities but also with a broader vision for a resilient, sovereign, and prosperous Central Asia.
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