Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — On 4 April, at the first "Central Asia – European Union" summit in Samarkand, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced the launch of a strategic partnership between the two regions and the introduction of the Global Gateway strategy with a funding volume of €12 billion.

"Central Asia is a region with a proud history and great ambitions, where sovereign states are located. Your strategic position opens access to global trade routes and investment flows. These new investments will strengthen your sovereignty, boost economies, and, importantly, create new friendly ties. We, Europeans, aim to become partners in this important stage of your long history. Today, we lay the foundation for a new strategic partnership between Central Asia and Europe," stated Ursula von der Leyen.

She emphasized that this partnership will strengthen connections between the regions and create new opportunities for cooperation in areas such as energy, security, digital development, and tourism.

"Reliable partners are more important today than ever, and our strategic partnership expresses a commitment to be there for each other," she added.

Within the framework of the new partnership, von der Leyen highlighted four key areas of cooperation.

The first is the development of transport corridors. The European Union confirmed the allocation of €10 billion for the development of the Trans-Caspian transport corridor, which will reduce travel time between Europe and Central Asia by almost half — to 15 days. In 2025, Uzbekistan will host an investment forum dedicated to supporting this project.

"In the context of growing fragmentation of the world, the Trans-Caspian corridor will become a link between Central Asia and Europe. But it is not only about building infrastructure. The opening of borders within Central Asia and the South Caucasus is also necessary to access the Black Sea. After three decades of closure, the opening of borders between Armenia, Turkey, and Azerbaijan will be an important step towards closer ties between Europe and Central Asia," noted the European Commission President.

The second important area is cooperation in critical raw materials. Central Asia possesses significant reserves of manganese, lithium, and graphite. The European Union proposed becoming a partner in developing the region’s local processing industry, creating added value locally rather than simply extracting resources. European companies have already invested €1.6 billion in a copper mine in Almalyk, Uzbekistan, where not only extraction but also processing occurs, creating jobs.

"We can do even more — build local production facilities across the entire value chain, from extraction to processing, as well as open laboratories and train specialists. This partnership will benefit our people and future generations," stressed Ursula von der Leyen.

Additionally, memorandums of cooperation were signed with Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, and a Joint Declaration of Intent was adopted. "Strategic autonomy of Central Asia in the raw materials sector is an important strategic interest for Europe," she added.

The third area is the development of green energy, including wind, solar, hydro, and geothermal energy. The EU is participating in the construction of major hydroelectric power stations, such as the Rogun HPP in Tajikistan and the Kambarata HPP in Kyrgyzstan, which should turn Central Asia into a hub for clean energy.

The fourth priority area is digital connectivity and satellite internet. The European Union is launching a satellite program that will connect remote areas, including 2,000 schools and hundreds of villages in Kazakhstan, and plans to connect 1,700 settlements across the region in the coming years.

"Central Asia may not have access to the sea, but it certainly has access to space. Space can become a new gateway to the world for this region," stated Ursula von der Leyen.

As part of this initiative, an investment package under the Global Gateway program was introduced, with a total of €12 billion allocated across four key areas: transport — €3 billion, critical minerals — €2.5 billion, hydro energy and climate — €6.4 billion, satellite internet — €100 million.

"We call this approach ‘Team Europe.’ This package will open new opportunities for Central Asia and marks the true beginning of a new era of friendship between our regions," concluded the European Commission President.

In addition, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) plans to develop projects worth €7-8 billion by 2027, covering critical minerals and renewable energy. The European Investment Bank (EIB) also plans to sign several memorandums with Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, and Kyrgyzstan, allocating €365 million for sustainable transport, water resources, and climate change resilience.