Europe stands with Central Asia in new era of partnership - Von der Leyen

Today, April 4, during the first “Central Asia – European Union” summit in Samarkand, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen declared the beginning of a “new era of strategic partnership” between Europe, Central Asian countries, and Uzbekistan.

“President Mirziyoyev, thank you for your wonderful hospitality. Dear delegation leaders, I am very pleased to be here today. The famous traveler and historian Ibn Battuta once said about his journey to Samarkand: ‘Travel leaves one speechless.’ For over a thousand years, this city has been the heart of Central Asia and a major hub of trade networks.

For centuries, Samarkand has witnessed new partnerships and friendly agreements. It can be said that participating in today’s first summit between Central Asia and the European Union is an opportunity to open a new chapter in our long-term friendship. Samarkand has hosted many significant events in world history, and today we are at another turning point.

New global challenges are emerging. Investments are being redistributed or reduced. Nations are striving to expand their spheres of influence.

But we are demonstrating that there is another path in Central Asia. Central Asia is a region of proud, sovereign states with an ancient history and ambitious goals. The strategic location of the region can unlock global trade routes and investment flows. And these new investments will help strengthen sovereignty.

These investments will strengthen your economy. And most importantly, they will foster new friendships and unite people. We Europeans want to be your partners in this new chapter of your millennia-old history.

Thus, today we are establishing a new strategic partnership between Central Asia and Europe. Whether it’s energy, mobility, digital technologies, tourism, trade, or transport, this partnership will create deeper connections between our regions.

And it will unite people across regions. Reliable partnerships have never been more crucial.

Our cooperation represents a commitment to support one another. We want to explore new paths for partnership. Let’s discuss four promising areas.

Let’s start with transport corridors. Central Asia is a clear definition of a global gateway and the heart of Eurasia, which is why our Global Gateway Investment Agenda focuses heavily on this region.

Last year, we pledged €10 billion for the Trans-Caspian transport corridor. This will cut travel time between Europe and Central Asia approximately in half to just 15 days.

Moreover, the corridor will unlock untapped potential for business between our regions and serve to develop trade and connectivity among Central Asia’s five countries.

That is why today I am pleased to announce that a new investor forum will be held in Uzbekistan in 2025. This will secure private financing for the corridor and allow us to measure progress.

In an increasingly fragmented world, the Trans-Caspian transport corridor will help strengthen connections between your five countries and Europe. But infrastructure is not all.

Smooth border crossings with Central Asia and South Caucasus countries to reach the Black Sea are necessary. After 30 years of closure, opening Armenia’s borders with Turkey and Azerbaijan will be a turning point. This will bring Europe and Central Asia closer than ever before.

My second proposal concerns critical raw materials.

Your countries are rich in resources. The region holds 40% of global reserves of manganese, as well as lithium, graphite, and others. These raw materials are the lifeblood of the future global economy and a coveted asset for global players.

Some are only interested in exploitation and extraction. Europe’s offer is different. We want to be your partners in developing your local industries. Added value must be local.

I believe our experience speaks for itself. European companies are engaging with raw materials in Uzbekistan, investing €1.6 billion in the Almalyk copper mine.

They contribute not only to extracting minerals but also to processing them locally. This creates local jobs and local added value, but more can be done throughout the region.

Together, we can build a direct value chain for raw materials—from mining to processing, from opening new research laboratories to training local workers. We want to build long-term partnerships. Such partnerships will benefit our citizens, their children, and our future.

The third proposal concerns clean energy.

This region aims to be a hub for clean energy. Wind in Kazakhstan, solar in Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan, water in Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan, and geothermal across the region.

You can produce enough clean energy for your economy and exports. You can even convert part of this energy into clean hydrogen.

Together, we are making history at the Rogun Dam in Tajikistan. Here, the world’s tallest dam will generate electricity for the region. Alongside the Kambarata Dam in Kyrgyzstan, Central Asia could become a hub for clean energy, powering trains, industries, and mining operations, and exporting energy to neighbors. So let’s expand our cooperation. Together, we can contribute to Central Asia’s energy independence and the global green transition.

My fourth proposal is that good cooperation is tied to good connectivity.

However, we know that for many, internet access is still a distant dream. Europe has a world-class satellite network that reaches the most remote areas, where data cables can never reach.

In this year alone, we are connecting 2,000 schools and hundreds of villages in Kazakhstan to European satellites.

Over the next few years, we are expanding this to 1,700 villages across the region. This is transformative. It connects communities and people. It attracts new businesses and investments. And it gives you direct access to high-speed internet without having to rely on neighbors as gatekeepers. We want all Central Asian countries to enjoy the same opportunities and are ready to work with all of you to achieve this.

I am grateful for the many positive responses I received during yesterday’s bilateral discussions.

Central Asia may be landlocked, but it is certainly not closed to the skies. The skies can become your gateway to the world.

Presidents, there is much we can accomplish in these four priority areas: transport corridors, raw materials, clean energy, and digital connectivity.

To accelerate progress, I am pleased to announce today a new €12 billion Global Gateway investment package for the region. It will combine investments from the EU and our member states. We call this the “Team Europe” approach. It will launch a series of new projects in Central Asia.

This truly marks the beginning of a new era in our long-standing friendship.

Colleagues, this is an exciting time for Europe and Central Asia. This summit opens a new chapter in our relations, as today we are establishing a strategic partnership.

This partnership demonstrates that you can trust the European Union. By working together, we can develop closer relationships that benefit both our regions. These are relationships strengthened and enriched by friendship and trade networks.

The two forums at the end of this year will be instrumental in assessing progress and exploring new areas of cooperation. The best is yet to come. Once again, thank you for your wonderful hospitality. I look forward to more meetings and closer cooperation on these and other topics.

Thank you. Thank you very much.”