Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- The third meeting of the EU-Uzbekistan Subcommittee on Development, organized by the Ministry of Investment and Foreign Trade together with the delegation of the European Union in the Republic of Uzbekistan, was held in the format of a videoconference.

The event was attended by representatives of 15 relevant ministries and departments of the Republic of Uzbekistan, representatives of the EU Directorate General and the European External Action Service - Head of the Directorate General for the Development of Cooperation of the European Commission in the Middle East, Persian Gulf, Central and South Asia S. Rinaldi, as well as B. Yaroshevich, Head of the European External Action Service for Central Asia. From the Uzbek side, the meeting was co-chaired by Deputy Minister of Investments and Foreign Trade Sh.Vafayev.

The key issues on the agenda of the meeting were the prospects for further cooperation, as well as an overview of the implementation of the current program cycle of the European Commission on bilateral financial and technical cooperation with Uzbekistan for 2014-2020, within which the European Union allocated grant funds in the amount of 168 million euros for the implementation of projects in the field of agriculture and integrated development of rural areas.

EU representatives noted that a key component in the development of the program cycle of cooperation for 2021-2027 will be the “Team Europe” initiative, in which the EU and member states will join forces to finance larger projects in priority areas. Speaking about the new initiative, S. Rinaldi stressed: “The planning of the EU development cooperation programs beyond 2020 is taking place in a difficult environment: pre-existing problems such as the impact of climate change and environmental degradation have been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Recovery from the COVID-19 crisis is grounded in the need to ensure a sustainable, socially just and climate neutral economy. Along with the general political priorities of the European Commission, the Sustainable Development Goals will continue to be the main goal of EU development cooperation. Team Europe initiatives will be a key feature of the new program. These are flagship programs in which the EU and Member States join forces to create expanded project packages to have a greater impact on development. ”

The Uzbek side focused on the need to accelerate the development of this cycle and indicated its readiness to work together to form a list of specific projects.

Particular attention was paid to the possibilities of further expanding interaction with the coverage of such areas as water management, higher education, ensuring employment of the population, improving the investment climate, environmental and innovative development of the Aral Sea region, as well as reducing the negative impact of the pandemic on socio-economic development.

Following the meeting, agreements were reached on holding a number of additional consultations to complete the formation of a list of projects proposed for implementation at the expense of the new EU budget, which is expected to be approved in the second half of 2021.