Press Release: Commissioner Ferrero-Waldner attends EU-Central Asia Ministerial Troika and EU-Central Asia Security Forum in Paris

Commissioner for External Relations and European Neighbourhood Policy, Benita Ferrero-Waldner will be attending both the EU-Central Asia Ministerial Troika and the EU-Central Asia Security Forum in Paris on the 17/18 September. The EU Troika will hold its fourth joint meeting with their Central Asian counterparts from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan in the evening of the 17 September. Their discussions will cover topics such as EU-Central Asia relations, including cooperation in the area of education, environment and water management, border management, rule of law, fight against drug trafficking as well as international matters of common concern. Furthermore, ministers will prepare the first EU-Central Asia Security Forum, which will take place the following day. In her speech at this Forum, Commissioner Ferrero-Waldner will focus on how the EU and Central Asia can work together to fight against key threats and security challenges such as energy insecurity, organised crime, drug trafficking, environmental challenges and climate change. Cooperation on these issues is already anchored in the Central Asia Strategy adopted in 2007.