Central Asia and the Global Economic Crisis

Abstract:

In 2007, the EU published a Strategy for a New Partnership with Central Asia. In its initial stages the EU focused on developing new forae for dialogue with the Central Asian countries, and received some criticism for inadequate substantive actions. This Policy Brief argues that the current global economic crisis does not alter the priorities of the EU Strategy, but it does require the EU to stick to existing obligations and also provides an opportunity for fresh initiatives to better achieve the Strategy’s fundamental goals. This EUCAM Policy Brief is part of a mini-series of three publications on the impact of the global slowdown on Central Asia and its relations with the European Union A Russian version is also available on the EUCAM website.