FRIDE in collaboration with CEPS and the Karelian Institute organised a debate in Brussels on the EU’s Central Asia Strategy 4 years after its initiation.
Stockholm meeting, November 2009
Security Issues in Central Asia and the Swedish EU Presidency
5 November 2009, Stockholm
On November 5th the EU Central Asia Monitoring (EUCAM) project, in cooperation with the Institute for Security and Development Policy (ISDP), organised a roundtable discussion in Stockholm entitled “Security Issues in Central Asia and the Swedish EU Presidency”. The central question addressed by participants at this working meeting was how effectively was the Swedish Presidency coping with the security challenges facing Central Asia during its tenure in the second half of 2009.
The EU - Central Asia: Searching for Synergy and Promoting Cooperation Between the Civil Societies
27 June 2009, Almaty
EUCAM organized its first bilingual (English-Russian) round-table in Almaty, 27 June, 2009. This working meeting focused on the challenges and windows of opportunity for cooperation of the European Union official institutions with the civil societies of Europe and Central Asia which deal with the issues of security. The meeting became an opportunity to closely examine and discuss some of the spheres of civil society in Central Asia that need particular assistance from European colleagues and that are given importance in the development of the EU-Central Asia relationships reflected in the Strategy.
Seminar on Preventive Diplomacy in Central Asia
11 May 2009, Brussels
Efforts in tackling regional problems to prevent potential conflicts and maintain stability and accord in Central Asia were the focus of the seminar ‘Preventive Diplomacy and the role of the UNRCCA in Central Asia’ hosted by CEPS on 11 May 2009. The lecture was given by the Ambassador Miroslav Jenca, the Head of the Regional Centre for Preventive Diplomacy for Central Asia based in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan. The ambassador briefed the auditience on the activities of the center. UNRCCA concentrates its efforts around three areas which carry potential for conflicts across Central Asian space: fight against drug-trafficking, terrorism and extremism; impact of the situation in Afghanistan on Central Asia; water-hydro-energy and environment issues. The main emphasis in UNRCCA is placed on facilitating dialogue on the joint use of water in the region. Among other things, Ambassador Jenca expressed cautious optimism regarding water related matters. According to him, there are signs that Central Asian states become increasingly ready to work together towards resolving the existing tensions.
Energy Seminar in Prague
16-17 April 2009, Prague
The prospect of establishing cooperation between the EU and Central Asia on critical aspects of energy security within the region, including the development of hydropower as well as maintaining a balance between the EU’s desire to diversify energy supplies and its commitment to democratisation and human rights, were at the heart of a seminar on “The European Union and Central Asia: Building an Energy Security Relationship” on April 16-17th in Prague.
Promoting Regional Cooperation and Development in Central Asia
2-3 March 2009, Brussels
EUCAM, in cooperation with Asian Development Bank, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace and the Wolfensohn Centre for Development (Brookings Institution), organised a conference on Regional Cooperation and Development in Central Asia. The gathering was marked by a broad range of perspectives on the constellation of interests, capacities and motivations regarding a more integrated Central Asia.
- by Antonis Shen
Promoting Democracy in Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan
12 December Madrid
On Friday 12 December, a group of 25 researchers, academics, human rights activists, NGO representatives and Spanish policy-makers gathered in Madrid for a roundtable on Euro-Atlantic approaches towards Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan in the field of democracy and human rights. Over three sessions, the role of the European Union (EU), NATO and the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) in Central Asia was discussed, as well as the current human rights situation in Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. Participants touched on a variety of questions going beyond the issues of democracy promotion and human rights and debated the EU's security and energy relationship with Central Asia. The roundtable took place under the auspices of the EU-Central Asia Monitoring (EUCAM) project.
European Parliament Hosts EUCAM Launch
8 October 2008, Brussels
On 8 October 2008, the EUCAM project was officially launched in the European Parliament. Over 100 politicians, diplomats, civil society leaders and journalists took part in the seminar that welcomed expert contributors from the EU Commission, the Council, the European Parliament and the EUCAM project. The event was hosted by the Socialist Group, in cooperation with the Group of the European People's Party and European Democrats, the Group of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe, and the Group of the Greens/European Free Alliance of the European Parliament. The seminar was preceded by a two-day expert working group meeting where EUCAM experts from Central Asian and EU countries agreed on a work programme. Plans were made to produce, over the coming 18 months, a variety of publications devoted to critical issues in the EU-Central Asia relationship and to organise a series of public events focusing on aspects of the Union's Strategy for engagement in the region.
Book Launch: Heated Debate over EU Central Asia Strategy
30 June 2008, Brussels
The EU Central Asia Strategy had its first birthday on the 30th June 2008. For this occasion the Center for European Political Studies launched its timely paperback publication entitled "Engaging Central Asia: The European Union's new Strategy in the heart of Eurasia". This lunch time meeting in CEPS was attended by Pierre Morel, the EU’s Special Representative for Central Asia, Neil Melvin, editor of the book and Andrew Stroehlein, International Crisis Group, with Michael Emerson chairing the panel, to speak on ‘one year after the adoption of EU Central Asia Strategy’.
All speakers admitted EU to be a ‘late-comer’. They also admitted that Central Asia, relatively stable from outside is a very fragile region, surrounded by ‘complex neighborhood’. Pierre Morel and EU in general were criticized for meeting with ‘dictators’ behind closed doors and failing to meet civil society. Neil Melvin from Brussels School of International Studies stated that lack of clear expectations and benchmarks make the assessment of Human Rights dialogue impossible in Central Asia. In his speech, Melvin called for shifting attention from Uzbekistan to other equally important states, like Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan. However, Uzbekistan remained the focus of the meeting in CEPS. Melvin and Stroehlein called EU for more transparency in its policies and dialogues with Central Asian countries.
