In 2007, the European Union signalled its intention to strengthen its engagement with the countries of Central Asia. Enhancing the Union's relations with Central Asia will require the development of a range of activities that reflect the fine balance between the promotion of European values through initiatives to strengthen democratization, rule of law and respect for human rights and achieving the Union's security and energy aims in the region. The immediate focus of this engagement will be the EU Strategy for Central Asia that was adopted in June 2007. The precise direction and character of the EU initiative has yet to be determined and is likely to unfold at least as much in response to the evolving political and international situation in Central Asia as to the broad framework outlined in the Strategy. 

Given the dynamic character of the emerging EU approach to the states of Central Asia, the broad interest in this relationship within a diversity of communities in Europe and Central Asia, the Fundacion para las Relaciones Internacionales y el Dialogo Exterior (FRIDE), Madrid, in co-operation with the Centre for European Policy Studies (CEPS), Brussels, have launched a joint project to monitor the implementation of the new EU approach to Central Asia. 

The project was officially launched in the European Parliament in October 2008 and in its Phase I runs until the end of February 2010. 

Research Areas:

The EU Strategy for Central Asia covers many areas of bilateral and regional cooperation, including energy, countering drug trafficking and religious extremism, along with economic issues and good governance, democracy, the rule of law and human rights. EUCAM, however, focuses on four priority areas in order to find the best mix between the broad political ambitions of the Strategy and the narrower practical priorities of Commission assistance programmes: Democracy and Human Rights; Security and Stability; Energy and Natural Resources; and Education and Social Relations