Reviewing the EU’s Approach to Central Asia
Reviewing the EU’s Approach to Central Asia

Author(s): Jos Boonstra
Subject(s): Governance, Government/Political systems, International relations/trade, Geopolitics
Published by: CEPS Centre for European Policy Studies
Keywords: European Union; Central Asia; EU's strategy for Central Asia; government; democracy; regime;
Summary/Abstract: The European Union’s (EU) Strategy for Central Asia is being reviewed for the fourth time. Over the last eight years, the EU has been successful in creating several institutionalised mechanisms for working and bolstering relations with Central Asian governments, including an increased presence on the ground. But the overall picture of the EU’s engagement in Central Asia is one of limited to no impact. The region has become more unstable; democracy is seen by the regimes as a threat to their survival; and human rights have been backsliding. Whereas some global and regional actors have laid out a broader policy vision for Central Asia – ‘New Silk Road’ by the United States (US), ‘Silk Road Economic Belt’ by China – the EU devised a detailed written strategy in 2007 outlining seven priorities ranging from democracy promotion to education and from security to energy and trade interests.

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