Samarkand to host again: What to expect from the summit?

In two days, the first Central Asia-European Union summit will take place in Samarkand. The event will be attended by European Council President António Costa and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, with Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev chairing the meeting. The summit will also include the participation of the leaders of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan.  

This article explores the summit’s preparations, expectations, and the evolving relationship between Uzbekistan and the European Union.  

Key issues on the agenda

During the summit, the European Union (EU) is expected to reaffirm its commitment to strengthening cooperation with Central Asian (CA) countries. Discussions will focus on several key areas of mutual interest, including:  

- Transport and digital connectivity  
- Strategic raw materials  
- Economic and security cooperation  
- Transition to environmentally friendly and efficient energy sources  

“Against the changing geopolitical landscape—Russia’s illegal war of aggression against Ukraine and the ongoing events in Afghanistan—relations between the European Union and Central Asia are becoming increasingly strategic,” the EU Delegation stated.  

Preparations for the summit

The EU and Central Asian leaders have previously held two high-level meetings. The first took place on October 27, 2022, in Astana, with the participation of the presidents of Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Kazakhstan, alongside then-European Council President Charles Michel. The second meeting was held on June 2, 2023, in Cholpon-Ata, on the northern shore of Lake Issyk-Kul, under the chairmanship of Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov.  

Although some publications referred to these meetings as summits, the EU’s official website clarified that they were “meetings at the level of leaders.” The upcoming Samarkand event is officially recognized as the first summit, with a joint statement expected to be issued by the participating leaders.  

The summit was first announced in Uzbekistan on September 22, 2023, during a meeting in Bruges attended by ambassadors from CIS countries, the rector of a leading European diplomatic academy, Federica Mogherini (former High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy from 2014 to 2019), and the audience of the Diplomatic Academy. Extensive preparations have been made in anticipation of this high-level event.  

On January 21 of this year, Shavkat Mirziyoyev’s eldest daughter, Assistant to the President Saida Mirziyoyeva, met with the EU Ambassador to Uzbekistan, Toivo Klaar, to discuss bilateral preparations for the summit.  

“Mr. Klaar expressed his strong support for our efforts to enhance the legal protection and economic opportunities of women. He also recognized that Uzbekistan cherishes its rich history, which should always serve to strengthen pride and national identity,” Mirziyoyeva wrote on her social media pages.  

Additionally, on March 27, President Mirziyoyev met with a delegation led by the High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Vice-President of the European Commission, Kaia Kallas. The discussions focused on the summit’s organization and the deepening of Uzbekistan’s ties with EU institutions, as well as Uzbekistan’s accession to the World Trade Organization.  

Uzbekistan-EU relations

Uzbekistan’s relations with the European Communities were established on April 15, 1992, with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding. Diplomatic relations followed on November 16, 1994. Since 1995, the Embassy of Uzbekistan in Brussels has been operational, also serving as a mission to the EU. In 2011, the EU opened a diplomatic mission in Tashkent.  

Under the Uzbekistan-EU Partnership and Cooperation Agreement, six joint bodies have been established:  

- Cooperation Council  
- Cooperation Committee  
- Inter-Parliamentary Cooperation Committee  
- Subcommittee on Economy, Trade, and Investment  
- Subcommittee on Justice, Home Affairs, Human Rights, and Related Issues  
- Subcommittee on Development Cooperation  

In 2022, trade between Uzbekistan and EU countries totaled $4.5 billion. By 2023, this figure had grown by nearly 40%. In 2024, Uzbekistan’s trade turnover with the EU surpassed €6 billion, while the portfolio of projects with European companies reached €30 billion. Last year, an agreement on strategic partnership in the field of critical mineral resources was signed. Effective cooperation is also being pursued in transport and digital connectivity, the green economy, culture, and other sectors.  

Among EU nations, France and Germany have been particularly active in strengthening ties with Uzbekistan.  

High-level meetings such as this summit play a crucial role in fostering interregional cooperation, potentially unlocking new opportunities for Uzbekistan on the global stage.