From April 3 to 4, delegations from the European Union and the five Nations of Central Asia will meet in Samarkand for the very first summit of the Central-European Union. This historic gathering takes place in the midst of a new complex phase of international relations, characterized by increasing unpredictability, the erosion of international standards, economic armaments and the intensification of climate challenges.
What makes this summit particularly important is the participation of the new EU leaders, including the president of the European Council António Costa and the president of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen. Their presence underlines that it is not only a other diplomatic forum, but a strategic opportunity to deepen cooperation between two regions which currently share an unprecedented convergence of interest, challenges and aspirations.
Central Asia – Strategically located at the crossroads of Europe and Asia – has traditionally been a region where the EU plays a secondary role, often overshadowed by greater regional powers and limited by limited resources. However, as a Benin Officer, the EU has comparative advantages that position it to play a transformative role, in particular by promoting connectivity in the fields of digital infrastructure, transport and green energy. These areas align not only with the strategic priorities of the EU, but also with a broader vision of a central resilient, sovereign and prosperous Asia.
Caspian green energy corridor
Since the beginning of 2022, the EU has intensified its efforts to diversify energy sources and secure critical raw materials. Central Asia – with its vast potential in solar, wind, hydroelectricity and green hydrogen – has become a key partner. The Caspian green energy corridor proposed – initially planned between Georgia and the EU – now opens up opportunities in Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan to provide renewable electricity to Europe via two lines of transmission under construction through the Caspian and Black Sea.
The region has enormous unexploited renewable energy potential. Estimates suggest This small -scale hydroelectric capacity could vary from 275 MW to 30,000 MW, a PV solar capacity from 195,000 MW to 3,760,000 MW, a wind capacity of 1,500 MW to 354,000 MW, a geothermal capacity from 2 MW to 54,000 MW and a bioenergy capacity of 200 MW to 800 mW.
Concrete measures have been taken to exploit this potential. Uzbekistan, for example, plans To add 20 GW of renewable capacity by 2030, bringing the total to 27 GW. In 2024 only, he signed agreements to develop 18 GW in solar and wind energy. The ambitions of Kazakhstan are more modest, target To add 5 GW to its current 2.9 GW capacity by 2030 – although growth domestic The demand could absorb a large part of this capacity.
Despite these efforts, the region continues to deal with persistent obstacles, including technical limitations, regulatory uncertainty and the need for substantial investment. This is where the EU can serve as a catalytic partner. Through The European Fund For sustainable development plus (EFSD +), the EU can mobilize investments using The global gateway frame. By combining guarantees, subsidies, technical assistance and other financing tools, the EU can help the region progress towards climate neutrality and sustainable development while fulfilling its global commitments within the framework of the 2030 Agenda, sustainable development objectives and the Paris Agreement.
Digital connectivity
In a rapidly digitized global economy, digital infrastructure is no longer a luxury – it is the backbone of competitiveness, innovation and national sovereignty. When the EU launched its Digital connectivity initiative During the Global Gateway Samarkand Forum in November 2022, he promised more than 40 million euros to support the Central Asian countries to fill their digital divisions and integrate them into selected EU digital programs. However, almost four years later, the initiative remains high in ambition but low in terms of implementation – lacking concrete action plans, coordination and additional financing mechanisms in Europe.
However, the potential remains immense. By supporting the expansion of a “hard” digital infrastructure – such as end -to -end satellite networks – and the improvement of “soft” systems thanks to technical assistance (including regulatory alignment, strengthening legal capacities and financial support for public, private or public partnerships), the EU can help central Asian countries to assert their sovereign of digital sovereigny.
According to the World Bank researchA 1% increase in Internet users can result in a 4.3% increase in exports. In this sense, the initiative would not only offer viable solutions to extend access to distant and unpreosed areas – the fact of folding the digital divisions on a national and regional level – but also transforms key sectors, including agriculture, education, health care, industry and finance. Above all, this would also improve the attractiveness of the region for private sector investment, offering a basis of sustainable and inclusive growth.
Transport connectivity
The geographical position of Central Asia has long made a natural bridge between the east and the west. Despite this potential, the region is still struggling with persistent bottlenecks to exchange flows – including ineffective border procedures, fragmented customs systems and obsolete paper logistics. These challenges continue to undermine its competitiveness, in particular compared to alternative commercial roads, such as the trans -Susiberian and sea rail corridors through the Indian Ocean.
However, the momentum moves. At Global Gateway Investor Forum In Brussels in January 2024, European and international financial institutions promised more than 10 billion euros (around 10.8 billion dollars) to the upgrading of infrastructure along the average corridor. This aims to reduce the time of transport between Europe and Central Asia to 15 days or less, an ambitious but achievable objective which reflects an increasing international confidence in the potential of the corridor.
However, the transformation of central Asia of a transit area into a dynamic shopping center requires more than roads and railways. The region needs intelligent infrastructure, and this is where the EU can offer decisive added value. Provide technical assistance to adopt digital trade solutions such as e-cmr And e-tut would be considerably streamline Cross -border operations, reduces delays and minimize transaction costs. These systems allow the monitoring of cargoes in real time, the digitization of documents and the limitation of opportunities for searching for rent and corruption.
Studies show that the implementation of the E-CMR can cut Document processing costs up to 55% and management times up to 75%. Likewise, e-tir can reduce Transportation durations up to 80%. Beyond improving efficiency, these innovations are aligned with EU’s climatic objectives, which include the reduction of carbon emissions and reducing paper use in accordance with Green Deal and Global Gateway strategies.
Beyond technical support, the most sustainable EU contribution could be in the promotion of systems based on rules and interoperable. By integrating international standards and best practices, the EU can help Central Asia overcome its fragmented commercial architecture and to evolve towards a deeper regional integration anchored in transparency, efficiency and responsibility.
The Samarkand summit marks a moment of the watershed in relations with EU Asia. At a time when the international order undergoes a fundamental realignment, the EU has the possibility of going from a peripheral partner to a main architect of connectivity in the region.
By investing in green energy, digital infrastructure and intelligent transport systems, the EU can help unlock the vast potential of Central Asia – advancing mutual strategic interests while promoting shared values of sustainability, sovereignty and regional cooperation.
The path is clear. What remains is political will – and sustained commitment – to walk together.