The European Union (EU) supports expansion of cooperation with the states of Central Asia. The EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell wrote following his trip to the region.

«For centuries, Central Asia played a key role, linking the Far East to Europe when goods and ideas flowed back and forth along the Silk Road. But relations need to be nurtured and constantly updated in light of new circumstances. These days, Central Asia is at the centre of events, in geo-strategic and geo-economic terms,» he noted.

According to Josep Borrell, Russia and also China have played a major role in the region and continue to do so. It is obvious that the region is looking to diversify its relationships and that they see the EU as a partner of choice. Leaders in the region are undertaking various reform programmes. In addition, relations among Central Asian countries are improving.

«As EU, we have a clear interest to seize on these changes. We must deepen our ties with the region and tap into the vast potential it has to offer, in terms of energy supplies, critical raw materials and new transport corridors that do not depend on Russia (to so-called Middle Corridor or Trans Caspian Corridor),» Josep Borrell noted.

He stressed that EU is already the main trade and investment partner of the region.

«In the past ten years, the EU has invested more than €100 billion in the region, making us the biggest source of FDI, well ahead of Russia or China. The key task is to build on these foundations and give a new impulse, while taking into account the fast changing geopolitical context,» Josep Borrell added.