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The EU's Interests in Central Asia: Integrating Energy, Security and Values into Coherent Policy
24/01/2011 By Jos Boonstra
The European Union and Central Asia are increasingly becoming neighbours. Through the 2007 EU Strategy for Central Asia, Brussels has been stepping up engagement with the region on many policy areas: security, energy, economic development, trade, transport routes, human rights, the rule of law and education. This paper provides a brief overview of EU policy towards Central Asia, paying special attention to the link between energy, security and values.
It concludes by arguing that the EU’s policy to Central Asia is overstretched and needs to be embedded further in the region by increasingly fostering local ownership. EU assistance funds are too limited and Central Asian regimes are too restrictive, making it very difficult for the European Union to have an impact in all policy areas. Choices need to be made in the key areas of values, security and energy.
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Keywords
Central Asia and Russia Energy Security Energy Supply European UnionBio author: Jos Boonstra
Central Asia. Eastern Europe. The Balkans. Caucasus. CSDP.NATO.OSCE.Security Sector Reform. Eastern Partnership.
