Samarkand – Strengthening bilateral relations and enhancing economic and political cooperation: this is the aim of the first-ever summit between the five Central Asian countries and the European Union, held in Samarkand, Uzbekistan. The event is led by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Antonio Costa.

The summit marks a key institutional opportunity to solidify Uzbekistan’s role in fostering diplomatic ties between Europe and Central Asia. In a constantly evolving geopolitical context, Uzbekistan is increasingly seen as a crucial partner for Brussels.

Trade between Uzbekistan and the EU rose from 2.6 billion dollars in 2017 to 6.4 billion in 2024. Over the same period, exports increased from 472.3 million dollars to 1.7 billion—more than 3.6 times—while imports climbed from 2.2 billion to 4.7 billion.

Foreign direct investment is also surging: in 2024, it reached 4.1 billion dollars, a 77% increase over the 2.3 billion in 2023.

“To strengthen economic interconnection,” said Uzbekistan’s President Shavkat Mirziyoyev in an exclusive interview with Euronews, “we must simplify trade procedures, improve access to European markets for Central Asian goods, and harmonize technical standards and certification processes. Achieving this requires a shared commitment from the European Union to support our goal of transforming Central Asia into a united and dynamic region. We are confident the Samarkand Summit will open new perspectives in this direction.”