EU: “We Are Not Seeking Expansion in Central Asia”

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — The European Union is not pursuing political or economic expansion in Central Asia and recognizes the presence of other major players in the region, including Russia and China, EU Special Representative for Central Asia Eduards Stiprais said in an interview with KazTAG.

According to him, the EU’s relations with countries in the region are based solely on the principles of mutual benefit.

“We are not immediate neighbors, and it is very difficult to accuse us of any attempts at expansion at the expense of Central Asian countries, whether political or economic. I believe our relations are based entirely on mutual benefit,” the diplomat said.

Stiprais emphasized that the European Union takes into account the presence of other partners in the region: “Of course, that is China, that is the Russian Federation.”

The EU’s interest in Central Asia, he explained, lies in supporting stable development and a peaceful climate:

“So that the region develops steadily, so that peace and prosperity prevail here. Because this directly affects our security as well.”

In April, Samarkand hosted the first-ever Central Asia–European Union Summit, bringing together the five regional heads of state and EU leaders, marking a new stage in the development of cooperation.