TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, January 28. Uzbekistan and the European Union plan to sign the Enhanced Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (EPCA) this year, President of the European Council Antonio Costa wrote on X, Trend reports.
"I anticipate welcoming President Mirzizoyev in Brussels later this year for the signing of the EU-UZ Enhanced Partnership and Cooperation Agreement," he wrote.
Antonio Costa also thanked President Mirzizoyev for hosting the upcoming EU-Central Asia Summit in Uzbekistan. This landmark event, the first-ever EU summit with the region, represents a significant opportunity to strengthen ties and explore new avenues of cooperation.
Uzbekistan's Samarkand region will host the Central Asia-EU Summit this year. It will explore possibilities for increased cooperation between the EU and Central Asia on digital, transport, and energy connectivity, as well as building a stronger partnership.
To note, the ties between the European Union and the Republic of
Uzbekistan have been progressively evolving since its independence
in 1991. The European Union's relations with Uzbekistan are
integrated within the periodically assessed EU and Central Asia
Strategy for a New Partnership, which delineates the overarching
cooperation goals, policy measures, and priority areas for the EU's
involvement in Central Asia.
The Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (PCA) between the EU and
the Republic of Uzbekistan, effective since 1999, established a
foundation for an expanded bilateral engagement. The PCA
encompasses political dialogue, trade in goods, business and
investment, protection of intellectual, industrial, and commercial
property, legislative cooperation, economic collaboration,
cooperation regarding democracy and human rights, prevention of
illegal activities, cultural cooperation, and financial
collaboration in technical assistance.
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