Transcript EU and Central Asia

European Union Relations with
Kazakhstan and
Central Asia
Presentation by:
Ambassador Aurélia Bouchez
Head of the European Union Delegation to Kazakhstan
Academic Diplomatic Club – KazGUU University Astana
4 February 2015
2015: Perspectives for EU-Kazakhstan Cooperation
• 2015 brings new stamina into the mature and developed bilateral relations
• The new EU and Kazakhstan Enhanced Partnership and Cooperation
Agreement (EPCA)
• The Review of the EU-Central Asia Strategy for a New Partnership
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A milestone in EU - Kazakhstan relations: the new EPCA
• Enhanced cooperation in 29 key areas, including economic & financial cooperation,
energy, transport, environment & climate change, culture, education & research.
• Increasing flows of trade, services, and investments
• Support for the diversification of the economy and sustainable development
• Enhanced support for democratic political development and rule of law
• Bilateral cooperation on international and regional security
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EU AND CENTRAL ASIA:
THE LATVIAN PRESIDENCY OF THE COUNCIL OF
THE EU
JURIS MAKLAKOVS,
AMBASSADOR OF THE REPUBLIC LATVIA
TO THE REPUBLIC OF KAZAKHSTAN
IT-LV-LU TRIO PROGRAMME
Overcome the
economic and financial
crisis
Deliver more jobs and
seize digital
opportunities
EU’s Strategic Agenda
A Union of jobs,
growth and
competitiveness
Towards an Energy
Union with a forwardlooking climate policy
A Union that
empowers and
protects all citizens
The Union
as a strong
global actor
A Union of
freedom, security
and justice
Safeguard fundamental
rights and play a role in
a fast changing world
Guidelines for the Commission
Jobs, growth and investment
Competitive
Europe
Digital
Europe
Internal market with a
strengthened industrial base
Economic and Monetary Union
Energy Union with a
climate change policy
A connected digital single market
Transatlantic Trade and
Investment Partnership
Europe as a stronger global actor
Engaged
Europe
Towards a new policy on migration
An area of Justice and Fundamental
Rights based on mutual trust
A Union of
democratic change
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COMPETITIVE EUROPE
Jobs and Growth
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DIGITAL EUROPE
Seizing the Opportunities of the Digital Single Market
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ENGAGED EUROPE
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Achievements and future challenges: the EU-CA strategy
•
Six Priority Areas:
 human rights and rule of law;
 youth and education;
 trade and investment;
 energy and transport;
 environment and water;
 common security threats and challenges
•
Development Cooperation Instrument (2007-2013) €719 Million. Main areas: Rule of Law,
Education and Environment
•
Increased funding for EU bilateral and regional cooperation with Central Asia for the
programming period of 2014-2020 (+56% compared to 2007-2013);
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Human Rights and the Rule of Law
•
Annual Human Rights Dialogues with all CA countries and support for civil
society
•
The Rule of Law Initiative: seminars and training workshops on access to
justice, principles of fair trial, independence of judiciary, training of judges
•
The Fourth Ministerial Conference on the Rule of Law between the EU and
CA states, (Astana 14-15 October 2014)
•
The Rule of Law Platform II (2015-2017): €1.87 million allocated
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Youth and Education
•
Kazakhstan – the first CA country member of the European Higher
Education Area
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EU funded Central Asia Education Platform (CAE) contributing to the adaptation of
the education systems of CA countries to the needs of the globalised world, € 1.8
million (2012-2015)
•
Continued participation of CA states in the Erasmus Mundus and Tempus
programmes and in the FP7 and Horizon 2020 programmes
•
Upcoming Central Asia Research and Education Network 3 (CAREN3):
€12.5
million allocated to develop an Internet network for research and education
communities in CA
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Economic development, trade and investment
•
2013-2014: trade between EU & CA increased by over 8%
•
88% of EU-CA trade is with Kazakhstan
•
Support to Kazakhstan's WTO accession
•
Support investment in CA through blending (IFCA)
Looking Forward:
 Kazakhstan's membership with the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) will strengthen
the connecting role of CA between Europe and Asia
 Regional economic integration processes
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Energy and Transport
• Integration of energy markets as a key mutual interest. The INOGATE
programme: over €30 million in ongoing projects
• Sustainable Energy Programme for Central Asia (CASEP) started in 2014: €4.5
million for 2013-2016
• Expand Southern Gas Corridor
• Transport: more engagement for reforms in line with EU transport safety and
security regulations, especially Aviation Safety
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Environment and Water:
• EU encouraged cooperation on environment and water:
 fostered dialogue on environmental themes
 involved civil society in discussion forums
• Central Asia: a disaster prone region
• Projects:
The Regional Environment Program for Central Asia (EURECA)
4 components, FLERMONECA (Forest and Biodiversity Governance,
Including Environmental Monitoring ) still active
Disaster preparedness programme (DIPECHO):
in 2014
expanded activities and ECHO office opened in Almaty
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Common threats and challenges
• Implementation of Border Management Programme for Central Asia (upcoming
BOMCA 9) and Central Asia Drug Action Programme (upcoming CADAP 6)
• High Level Security Dialogue with all CA states to enhance cooperation on
security issues
• A new EU-Central Asia Drug Action Plan
• Joint initiative with International Centre for Migration Policy Development to
improve migration management
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Cooperation with Central Asia
• One of the Foreign Policy priorities for the Presidency;
• Action Plan for Central Asia aprroved;
• Key priority areas for the Presidency:
– 1) security,
– 2) education,
– 3) sustainable development – environment, transport,
agriculture.
• Political dialogue;
• EU-CA Strategy review.
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EU in CA: progress achieved
• Increased EU visibility and acceptance in the region;
• Increased and more focused EU development assistance;
• Activities in the framework of the three focal initiatives
(“pillars”) of the Strategy: rule of law, environment/water
and education;
• Cooperation in confronting common challenges (EU
funded programmes BOMCA and CADAP);
• Involvement in solving water issues;
• Deepened co-operation in education through ERASMUS
(several thousand students).
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Readjusting the approach – propositions
by LVA and DEU
• Build on success and readjust;
• Augment mutual understanding with the Central Asian
authorities and societies;
• To enhance and deepen consultations;
• Tailoring and differentiating between:
(a) issues relevant for the region as a whole,
(b) issues of concern to only a limited group of states,
(c) issues best be dealt with on a bilateral basis;
• to foster EU’s general visibility in the region.
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Areas for that deserve special attention
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Revitalisation of the EU - Central Asian Security Dialogue;
Regional Security – border management, fight against drugs;
Trade and investment;
Facilitation of Eurasian land transport links;
Re-establishment of EU Special Representative;
Reinforced dialogue with key players in the region;
Continued support for human rights, rule of law and
democratisation reforms;
• Redouble efforts to invest in Education.
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Presidency priorities in the field of trade:
• Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership
(TTIP ) - main priority;
• EU – Canada Free Trade agreement;
• EU - Japan FTA;
• EU-Vietnam FTA;
• EU cooperation with the EaP and CA countries;
• Implementation of Deep and Comprehensive Free
Trade Agreement (DCFTA) with Moldova and
Georgia.
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Thank You!
Спасибо!
Рахмет!
QUESTIONS?
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