EU Council Conclusions on Central Asia

Sumario: EU Council Conclusions on Central Asia (23 April 2007: Luxembourg)

2796th EXTERNAL RELATIONS Council meeting, Luxembourg

The Council adopted the following conclusions:

"1. The Council welcomes the successful holding of the first EU Foreign Ministers' Troika Meeting with the five Central Asian countries: Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan in Astana on 28 March 2007. The Council agrees that the meeting was an important further step towards the strengthening of political dialogue with the Central Asian countries. In this context, the Council commends the efforts by the EU Special Representative for Central Asia, Ambassador Pierre Morel.

2. The Council expresses its satisfaction at the agreement by the Foreign Ministers in Astana to intensify cooperation between the EU and the five Central Asian countries.

3. The Council held a first discussion on the draft EU Central Asia Strategy drawing on the results of the Astana meeting, earlier EU discussions and the views put forward by the Central Asian countries. The Council agreed to intensify within the framework of the Central Asia Strategy the Union's cooperation with Central Asian countries on an individual and regional basis, especially in the following fields: rule of law, human rights, and democratisation; education; energy and transport; environment; trade and economic development cooperation; regional security challenges, such as border management, combating drug trafficking and organized crime. The EU will draw upon the experience of the OSCE, the UN, international financial institutions and other regional organisations and will enhance cooperation with them.

4. Recalling the mandate of the European Council in December 2006 the Council agreed to return to the subject in June 2007 with a view to the adoption of the Strategy by the European Council in June 2007.

5. The Council continues to follow closely the situation in the Central Asian countries and in this context the Council takes note of some important recent developments:

− the Council notes that the second round of experts' talks took place on the Andijan events in Tashkent on 2 and 3 April 2007, recalling its previous Conclusions. The Council has decided to enter into a regular and result-oriented human rights dialogue between the EU and Uzbekistan. The Council looks forward to holding the first round of this dialogue as soon as possible.

− the Council takes note of promising first reform steps taken by the new Turkmen Government in the education and social systems. The EU encourages the Turkmen Government to implement necessary reforms and stands ready to support these efforts particularly in the fields of human rights, the judiciary and the rule of law, education, health and agricultural reform.

− the Council encourages all political forces in the Kyrgyz Republic to pursue a political dialogue that will enable the new Government to meet the high expectations of the Kyrgyz people for fundamental reforms. The EU stands ready to support all efforts which the Government is taking to strengthen the constitutional, legal, judicial and administrative systems in the Kyrgyz Republic in order to uphold the principles of international law and to improve the social situation as well as the investment climate."

Ref: CL07-099EN
Fuente UE: Consejo
Foro NU:
Fecha: 23/4/2007

| Arriba |

< Vuelta a la pagina anterior