On October 24 in Brussels, the Enhanced Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (EPCA) was signed between Uzbekistan and the European Union in the presence of Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, President of the European Council António Costa, and President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen.
The document renews and significantly expands the legal framework governing cooperation between Uzbekistan and the European Union, which until now has been based on the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement signed in 1996.
Negotiations on the draft of the new Agreement began in February 2019 and were completed in July 2022. The initialing took place on July 6, 2022 in Brussels.
The document comprises 9 sections, 356 articles, and 14 annexes. It covers virtually all areas of bilateral relations, and establishes a comprehensive legal foundation for strengthening political dialogue and deepening cooperation across all mutually beneficial areas, with particular emphasis on trade and investment, sustainable development, science and education, innovation and high technologies, the environment, and climate change.
The signing of the Agreement marks the beginning of a new chapter in Uzbekistan–EU relations, elevating the multifaceted partnership to an unprecedented level.
President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, said: “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.”
The agreement opens opportunities for collaboration in new areas such as critical raw materials essential for the green and digital transitions, building on the Memorandum of Understanding signed between the EU and Uzbekistan in 2024. It also supports enhanced regional connectivity, including through the Global Gateway initiative and the Trans-Caspian Transport Corridor.
Since April 2021, Uzbekistan has benefited from unilateral preferential access to the EU market via the Special Incentive Arrangement for Sustainable Development under the EU Generalised Scheme of Preferences (GSP+). The EPCA’s trade and economic provisions complement these GSP+ benefits regarding market access and Uzbekistan’s commitments on sustainability as a GSP+ beneficiary.
Uzbekistan is the EU’s second-largest trading partner in Central Asia. GSP+ drove a significant rise in EU-Uzbek trade in goods. Overall trade between the EU and Uzbekistan reached nearly €4.8 billion in 2024.
The EU is Uzbekistan’s third largest trading partner (accounting for 10.4% of Uzbekistan’s trade in 2024) and its second largest export destination (7.2% of Uzbekistan’s exports).
Photo: president.uz
