President Shavkat Mirziyoyev’s visit to Brussels marks a new era in cooperation between Uzbekistan and the EU

On 24 October 2025, the President of Uzbekistan, Shavkat Mirziyoyev, will visit Brussels for high-level meetings with the European Union leadership. The visit is set to culminate in the signing of the Enhanced Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (EPCA) — a comprehensive framework that will redefine Uzbekistan’s ties with the EU for the next decade.

The signing represents not just a diplomatic milestone, but the formal recognition of Uzbekistan as one of Europe’s strategic partners in Central Asia, a region that has become increasingly important in global trade, connectivity, and energy diversification.

What the EPCA Means

The new EPCA replaces the 1996 Partnership and Cooperation Agreement, expanding cooperation to more than 25 key sectors — from trade and energy to digital innovation, migration management, and security policy.

It reflects a joint commitment to:

• Strengthen political dialogue and democratic governance
• Facilitate freer trade and investment flows
• Support digital transformation and green transition
• Enhance security cooperation in counter-terrorism and organized crime
• Build sustainable transport and energy links between Central Asia and Europe

The EPCA introduces mutual recognition mechanisms, technical standards alignment, and investment protections that will create a clearer and safer environment for European companies investing in Uzbekistan. In turn, it opens the EU’s 450-million-strong market to a wider range of Uzbek goods — from textiles and chemicals to agri-food and manufactured products.

European Commission officials have called the EPCA “a modern and ambitious framework for cooperation that matches the pace of Uzbekistan’s reforms and the EU’s strategic interests in the region.”

The Future of EU–Uzbekistan Cooperation

The EPCA is expected to become the cornerstone of a new phase of economic modernization and connectivity. It will align Uzbekistan’s regulations and standards with those of the EU, gradually integrating the country into the European economic space.

In practice, this will mean:

• Simpler trade procedures and digital customs systems under EU norms.
• Access to EU financing instruments for infrastructure, renewable energy, and private sector innovation through the Global Gateway initiative (worth €12 billion for Central Asia).
• Joint research and education programs, encouraging Uzbek participation in Erasmus+, Horizon Europe, and vocational training partnerships.
• Increased cooperation in green and critical raw materials, supporting the EU’s energy transition and Uzbekistan’s industrial modernization.

In the long term, Brussels and Tashkent aim to establish a Central Asia–EU connectivity corridor, linking Uzbekistan’s transport and logistics networks to European supply chains through the Middle Corridor and Caspian routes. This will allow faster, greener, and more cost-effective trade between the two regions.

Building on Momentum

Uzbekistan’s reforms have already attracted rising European investment — particularly from Germany, the Netherlands, Italy, and Belgium. The EPCA will make it easier for such projects to scale up, with stronger legal protections and access to EU credit guarantees.

New cooperation is expected in:

• Renewable energy, including solar, wind, and hydrogen projects;
• Smart agriculture and food processing for export to EU markets;
• Digital economy, with EU technical assistance for cybersecurity and e-governance;
• Pharmaceuticals and life sciences, using Belgian and Dutch expertise to strengthen Uzbekistan’s growing healthcare sector.

For European investors, Uzbekistan offers a young and educated workforce, tax incentives, and a rapidly developing domestic market of nearly 38 million consumers.

Uzbekistan has already established formal strategic partnerships with several European Union member states. These include Hungary (Expanded Strategic Partnership Agreement, signed on May 20 2025), Italy (Joint Declaration on Strategic Partnership, May 29 2025), France (Official Strategic Partnership, March 12–13 2025), and Slovakia (Joint Declaration on Strategic Partnership, June 9 2025), as confirmed by official government and presidential sources. Relations with Slovenia have also deepened significantly following a presidential visit and the signing of new agreements on areas such as labour mobility and economic cooperation.

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Why This Partnership Matters

For the European Union, deeper engagement with Uzbekistan strengthens its strategic autonomy in Central Asia — reducing over-dependence on other global suppliers and securing reliable partners for energy, transport, and critical raw materials.

For Uzbekistan, the agreement accelerates its transition toward a modern, export-oriented economy integrated with global markets. It will enable the country to:

• Expand non-commodity exports, especially in textiles, machinery, and food processing;
• Access advanced technologies and digital tools from Europe;
• Participate in regional energy and climate initiatives;
• Strengthen its institutional capacity in governance, law, and environmental management.

In the words of Uzbekistan’s Foreign Ministry:

“The EPCA is not only a document — it is a vision. It will help us turn reforms into sustainable growth, build a transparent and rules-based economy, and connect Uzbekistan to Europe in a way that benefits both sides.”

The Role of Belgium

Belgium — home to EU institutions and the Port of Antwerp-Bruges, one of Europe’s largest logistics hubs — is expected to serve as a gateway for Uzbek exports and a catalyst for investment partnerships.

Discussions during President Mirziyoyev’s Brussels visit are likely to include:

• Joint logistics projects using Belgian transport expertise;
• New financing mechanisms through the European Investment Bank (EIB) and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD);
• Cultural and educational exchanges between universities and research centers in both countries.

Companies such as Picanol Group, Jaga Climate Designers, and Belcolade are already active in Uzbekistan, and new ventures in agro-processing, pharmaceuticals, and climate technology are expected to follow.

Hungary’s Role in the New EU–Uzbekistan Partnership

Hungary has long positioned itself as a bridge between the European Union and Central Asia, and the new Enhanced Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (EPCA) between the EU and Uzbekistan is expected to strengthen that role. Budapest has been a consistent supporter of Uzbekistan’s reform agenda and regional integration efforts, seeing the country as a reliable and dynamic partner within the Organization of Turkic States and in the broader EU–Central Asia dialogue.

Hungary is noted as a key European ally of Uzbekistan, having signed a strategic partnership agreement with Uzbekistan in 2021, making Hungary the first EU country to have such a partnership with Uzbekistan.

The EPCA will open new economic opportunities for Hungarian companies in energy, agriculture, pharmaceuticals, and water management — sectors where Hungary already has strong expertise. With improved investment protection, simpler customs rules, and access to EU funding through the Global Gateway initiative, Hungarian businesses will be better positioned to participate in large-scale green energy, infrastructure, and digitalization projects in Uzbekistan.

For Hungary, the agreement also carries strategic significance. It supports the country’s efforts to diversify energy routes, expand exports, and enhance connectivity along the Middle Corridor linking Europe with Central Asia. By deepening cooperation with Uzbekistan under the EU framework, Hungary can strengthen both its economic presence and diplomatic influence in a region that is becoming vital for Europe’s long-term stability and sustainable growth.

A Shared Future Vision

Both sides recognize that this partnership is not just about economics — it’s about creating a bridge between Europe and Central Asia based on trust, stability, and sustainable development.

As European Council President António Costa noted in his message to President Mirziyoyev:

“The signing of the EPCA marks the beginning of a new stage in our shared history — one that will strengthen our cooperation, deepen our mutual understanding, and ensure prosperity for our peoples.”

From Samarkand to Brussels, Uzbekistan’s engagement with Europe is becoming a long-term strategic alliance — one that connects markets, cultures, and ideas across continents.

The Enhanced Partnership and Cooperation Agreement will turn this vision into a structured, actionable roadmap — shaping the next decade of Europe-Central Asia relations and redefining Uzbekistan’s role as a modern, open, and reliable partner at the heart of Eurasia.

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