President Sadyr Japarov of the Kyrgyz Republic welcomed Vice-President of the European Commission Margaritis Schinas in a significant meeting on January 15, highlighting the robust and evolving cooperation between Kyrgyzstan and the European Union, president’s press service reported.
President Japarov expressed his satisfaction with the active development of ties between Kyrgyzstan and the EU, spanning both interregional and bilateral domains. The leaders engaged in discussions covering a broad spectrum of topics, including priority projects for Kyrgyzstan, investments, financing, banking relations, and regional security.
One focal point of the meeting was the upcoming Europe - Central Asia Investors Forum scheduled for January 29-30 in Brussels, aimed at advancing transport links—an event President Japarov underscored as crucial for Kyrgyzstan's interests.
Addressing human rights concerns, President Japarov affirmed the presence of an active civil society, media freedom, and unrestricted internet access in the Kyrgyz Republic. He emphasized the importance of reliable information in the online space.
Vice-President of the European Commission, Margaritis Schinas, acknowledged positive changes in Central Asia and expressed eagerness to deepen cooperation with Kyrgyzstan. He viewed the current period as historically significant, with the European Commission actively supporting these positive trends.
Skinas expressed confidence in strengthening financial and economic partnerships between the EU and Kyrgyzstan, focusing on climate projects, digitalization, and the development of transport corridors. He assured Kyrgyzstan of the European Commission's readiness to support the country's strengths in these areas.
Kyrgyzstan-EU Relations
The political foundations for the EU-Kyrgyz Republic partnership were laid in the 1999 Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (PCA), aiming to strengthen ties. To accommodate evolving interactions, negotiations for the Enhanced Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (EPCA) commenced in July 2019. Once finalized, a proposal for a Council Decision will be launched.
Kyrgyzstan is also a participant in the European Union Strategy on Central Asia, adopted in 2019, indicating the EU's commitment to fostering a robust partnership.
Annual political dialogues, including the Cooperation Council at the ministerial level, and the Cooperation Committee at the technical level, serve as forums for discussions on political, trade, economic, investment, and regional issues. These dialogues help assess Kyrgyzstan's progress in implementing reforms. An annual Human Rights Dialogue is also held to address concerns in the realm of civil liberties and human rights.
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