Von der Leyen Praises Uzbekistan's Regional Role

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.uz) — European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen praised Uzbekistan's role in strengthening regional cooperation across Central Asia, describing the nation's progress in recent years as colossal, according to an interview with the Dunyo Information Agency.

Speaking on the eve of the 35th anniversary of Uzbekistan's independence, von der Leyen stated that Uzbekistan has undergone a profound transformation, particularly since 2016, by opening up economically and internationally while strengthening ties with regional neighbors and global partners. She noted that international financial institutions have documented the scale of economic reforms and a significant reduction in poverty across the country.

Regarding bilateral relations with the European Union, the European Commission President highlighted the signing of the Enhanced Partnership and Cooperation Agreement in October 2025 during President Shavkat Mirziyoyev's visit to Brussels as a major milestone. She reaffirmed the European Union's support for Uzbekistan's accession to the World Trade Organization, noting that the conclusion of bilateral negotiations on market access marked a critical step in the process.

Von der Leyen outlined the financial commitments under the European Union's Global Gateway initiative for Central Asia, which totals 12 billion euros across transport, digital connectivity, critical raw materials, water resources, and energy. For the Trans-Caspian Transport Corridor, 10 billion euros has been pledged, with approximately 2.5 billion euros allocated to specific projects by the end of 2025. Additionally, the critical raw materials project portfolio announced at the Central Asia–EU summit in Samarkand is valued at 2.5 billion euros.

Under the Team Europe initiative on water, energy, and climate in Central Asia, project values reach approximately 4.8 billion euros. These include drinking water supply programs in the Tashkent, Kashkadarya, and Ferghana regions, as well as the Sarymay solar power plant. For digital connectivity, the 20 million euro regional C4CA program and 60 million euros in infrastructure investments are targeted toward satellite communications deployment.

Assessing Uzbekistan's outlook over the next 10 to 15 years, von der Leyen noted that the country is positioned to play an increasingly vital role in connecting Central Asia with Europe and other markets through modern transport, energy, and digital networks. Continued economic growth and diversification will be driven by ongoing reforms, deeper integration into international trade, private sector expansion, and WTO accession.