Mitteilungen

Following the First Central Asia-European Union Parliamentary Cooperation Forum on 30-31 March 2026 in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, a joint statement by the Delegations from the European Parliament, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan was issued on 31 March 2026:

"We, the participants of the First Inter-Parliamentary Forum in the "Central Asia - European Union" format, held on 30-31 March 2026 in the city of Samarkand at the initiative of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, as announced during the First "Central Asia - European Union" Summit (April 2025, Samarkand),

reaffirming our shared commitment to strengthening a comprehensive, long-term, and mutually beneficial partnership between the countries of Central Asia and the European Union,

guided by the principles of mutual respect, trust, equality, and shared responsibility,

recognizing the growing role of parliamentary diplomacy in ensuring democratic legitimacy, transparency, and effective support for interstate agreements,

emphasizing the importance of agreements reached at the level of Heads of State and Government, as well as the need for their consistent and results-oriented parliamentary support,

hereby state the following:

The Parties express their strong support for the establishment of a Strategic Partnership between Central Asia and the European Union, aimed at elevating interregional cooperation to a qualitatively new level and ensuring its long-term sustainability, coherence, and practical effectiveness.

The Parties reaffirm their commitment to further deepening interregional cooperation, including all bilateral and multilateral mechanisms of interaction.

The participants underline the need to institutionalize the parliamentary dimension of "Central Asia - European Union" cooperation and support holding the Inter-Parliamentary Forum on a regular basis as a sustainable, structured, and results-oriented platform for dialogue, coordination, and parliamentary support of agreed priorities.

The Parties note the importance of strengthening cooperation in the areas of sustainable economic development, trade, and investment, as well as enhancing transport, energy, and digital connectivity, including the development of the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route and the promotion of green and digital transitions.

The participants reaffirm the importance of expanding cooperation in education, science, and innovation, including the development of academic mobility, joint educational programs, and research partnerships.

The Parties emphasize the importance of strengthening people-to-people contacts and express their readiness to explore opportunities to facilitate mobility, including consideration of simplifying visa procedures for citizens of Central Asian countries in accordance with the applicable procedures and regulations of the European Union.

The participants highlight the importance of developing interaction between the business communities of the two regions, including promoting direct business-to-business (B2B) contacts, expanding investment cooperation, and exchanging best practices.

The Parties reaffirm their commitment to the principles of the rule of law, respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, as well as gender equality, and emphasize the role of parliaments in ensuring effective oversight and implementation of these principles.

The participants underline the importance of coordinated efforts to address regional and global challenges and threats, including terrorism, extremism, cyber threats, and transnational organized crime.

The Parties note the relevance of strengthening cooperation in the field of sustainable development, including the climate agenda, environmental protection, as well as sustainable and equitable water resource management.

The participants support expanding inter-parliamentary cooperation through regular exchanges, engagement at the level of specialized committees, and the implementation of joint programs aimed at strengthening institutional capacity, including with the support of the European Union.

The Parties agreed to continue consultations on the further development of the Forum format, including its future configuration and possible geographical expansion.

The participants express their appreciation to the Republic of Uzbekistan for the high level of organization of the Forum and the warm hospitality extended to the delegations.

The Parties agreed to hold the next Inter-Parliamentary Forum "Central Asia - European Union" at a mutually agreed time and venue."

Delegation for relations with Central Asia (DCAS) Chair Mrs Giusi Princi (EPP, Italy) issued the following statement today, 17 December 2025 on visa facilitation with the Republic of Tajikistan:

As Delegation for the relations with Central Asia, we have called for visa facilitation agreement with the countries of this crucial region since many years. While I welcome the start of the negotiations on a Visa Facilitation Agreement and a Readmission Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of Kazakhstan, we have to point out as the current situation remains unstainable for our partners in Central Asia. Recent cases occurred to Tajik citizens, and even to official delegations, demonstrate a lack of consistency and an overall unnecessary burden of formalities and information requested to applicants.

Those practices risk to jeopardize the progress made by the deepening of the bilateral relations, at expense of citizens, business operators, tourists, students.

We believe that visa facilitation is an essential instrument to strengthening mutual friendship and comprehensive partnership. Notably in the present international landscape, our relations with Central Asia need to strengthen people-to-people contacts and cooperation between actors of our civil societies, at all levels. Therefore, the opening of negotiations with Kazakhstan must be just the first step in a rapid sequence of similar processes with Tajikistan, as well as the other partners of the region.