EU and Uzbekistan deepen ties with new partnership agreement signed in Brussels

Uzbekistan's President Shavkat Mirziyoyev was in Brussels on Friday to attend the signing of an Enhanced Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (EPCA) with the Presidents of the European Council and the European Commission, marking a new phase in their partnership.

This document, signed on behalf of the EU by Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Council President António Costa, replaces the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement signed in 1996.

Through this pact, the EU is demonstrating a desire to deepen ties with countries in Central Asia.

"Today we are delivering on that commitment by reinforcing our long-standing relationship with Uzbekistan," von der Leyen said in a statement.

This new text strengthens political dialogue between Brussels and Tashkent. But it also consolidates many areas such as trade, investment, research, sustainable development and intellectual property.

The two partners also discussed exchanges in new sectors such as critical raw materials needed for ecological and digital transitions.

To emphasise the importance of this economic aspect, Mirziyoyev also met with directors of European companies and banks in Brussels on Friday.

Uzbekistan is "a country that is growing, a country with a young population, a small country that is positioned as an IT hub. An IT hub, not only in Central Asia, but also with the diversity of people who live in Uzbekistan, with the possibility of providing services all over the world," said Jean-Philippe Gillet, President Fixed and Maritime Vertical at SES, a medium and high orbit satellite communications company.

"We provide satellite capabilities to precisely digitise the country and provide global coverage within the country," he added.

Trade between the EU and Tashkent reached €4.8 billion last year, a figure that has almost doubled since 2020.

The EU is Uzbekistan's third largest trading partner, accounting for 10.4% of the country's trade in 2024.

Tashkent exports 7.2% of its goods to Member States, making the bloc Uzbekistan's second largest export partner.