Uzbekistan, EU elevate relations with comprehensive partnership deal

The European Union and Uzbekistan signed an Enhanced Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (EPCA), marking a major step forward in strengthening bilateral relations. The agreement represents a deepening of regional ties, elevating cooperation to a new level of strategic partnership following the EU-Central Asia Summit held on April 4 in Samarkand, Uzbekistan.

“In Samarkand, we made a commitment to deepen our relations with Central Asian countries. Today we are delivering on that commitment, by reinforcing our long-standing relationship with Uzbekistan. The Enhanced Cooperation and Partnership Agreement provides a framework for Uzbekistan and the European Union to work together for the mutual benefit of our citizens. It is the moment to consolidate an already strong partnership,” President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, said, Caliber.Az reports, citing the organization.

The EPCA establishes a new legal framework to strengthen political dialogue and deepen cooperation across a wide range of areas. These include trade and investment, sustainable development, connectivity, intellectual property, research and innovation, education, environment and climate change, as well as the rule of law, human rights, and civil society. The agreement also enhances collaboration in foreign and security policy, encompassing conflict prevention, crisis management, risk reduction, cybersecurity, regional stability, disarmament, non-proliferation, arms control, and export control.

Importantly, the agreement opens avenues for cooperation in emerging sectors such as critical raw materials, vital for green and digital transitions, building on the EU-Uzbek Memorandum of Understanding signed in 2024. It also supports enhanced regional connectivity through initiatives such as the Global Gateway and the Trans-Caspian Transport Corridor.

Through the EPCA, the EU and Uzbekistan reaffirm their commitment to international law and norms, and to promoting peace, stability, and security through effective multilateralism.

In parallel with the EPCA signing, the EU and Uzbekistan announced the conclusion of bilateral negotiations on market access for goods and services, marking a key milestone in Uzbekistan’s ongoing accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO). The agreement reflects EU political support for Uzbekistan’s WTO accession and the associated economic reform agenda, as well as for a rules-based multilateral trading system with the WTO at its core. Under the deal, Uzbekistan has committed to maximum tariff rates for imports and exports and made concessions on services, which will be incorporated into its future WTO Protocol of Accession.

 Since April 2021, Uzbekistan has enjoyed preferential access to the EU market through the Special Incentive Arrangement for Sustainable Development (GSP+) under the EU Generalised Scheme of Preferences. The EPCA complements these GSP+ benefits, providing additional market access and reinforcing Uzbekistan’s sustainability commitments as a GSP+ beneficiary.

Uzbekistan is the EU’s second-largest trading partner in Central Asia. The GSP+ arrangement has significantly boosted EU-Uzbek trade in goods, which reached nearly €4.8 billion in 2024—almost double the bilateral trade in 2020. The EPCA replaces the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (PCA) originally signed in 1996.

The EU ranks as Uzbekistan’s third-largest trading partner, accounting for 10.4% of its trade in 2024, and its second-largest export destination at 7.2% of exports. Uzbekistan has committed to maintaining momentum in WTO negotiations, aiming to achieve accession at the 14th WTO Ministerial Conference in 2026.

As part of the accession process, WTO candidates must conclude bilateral agreements with interested members covering tariff commitments and services, which will apply to all WTO members upon final accession.

By Vafa Guliyeva