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Despite being strategically located at the crossroads of Europe and Asia, Central Asia has long been poorly connected: remote, landlocked, cut off from the main population centres of Europe and Asia by empty steppes and rugged mountains. As well as physical barriers, regulatory obstacles and political repression often inhibit the free flow of people, goods, services and ideas. However, in 2013 China announced its Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), one of whose aims is to revive the historic Silk Road ...

Central Asia is an often overlooked region, but one that is gradually becoming more important for the European Union. Although the Central Asian countries are less of a priority than those of the Eastern Neighbourhood, the EU has steadily intensified diplomatic relations with the region, at the same time as ramping up development aid. European trade and investment, above all in Kazakhstan, have made the EU the main economic player in Central Asia, ahead of Russia and China. However, former overlord ...

Until recently, Uzbekistan was one of the most repressive countries in the world. Under its long-time leader Islam Karimov, human rights abuses included torture, child and forced adult labour, as well as severe restrictions on religious freedom, the media and civil society. Following Karimov's death in 2016, his successor Shavkat Mirziyoyev has launched an ambitious reform programme. Some of the worst human rights abuses (such as torture and forced labour) have been phased out, or at least diminished ...

The Council of Europe (CoE) and the European Union (EU) are to a significant extent based on shared values, and have overlapping membership. This has led them over time to develop a strategic partnership and joint actions beyond the EU's and, more recently, the CoE's borders, making use of the latter's longstanding technical expertise on human rights, the rule of law and democracy. For the EU, the CoE convention system and the European Court of Human Rights remain central instruments for defending ...

While it is rich in fossil fuels and minerals, Central Asia is poor in water. However, water plays a key role in the economies of the five Central Asian countries. In mountainous Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, hydroelectricity is already a vital energy resource; new dams could also make it a major export revenue earner. Downstream, river water irrigates the cotton fields of Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan. Heavy water use, particularly in agriculture, is putting water supplies under pressure. Central Asian ...

While EU-Russia relations had long been difficult, in 2014 they took an abrupt turn for the worse, after Russia illegally annexed Crimea and fomented separatist insurgencies in eastern Ukraine. To date, little progress has been made towards ending the Ukraine conflict. In addition, new sources of tension have emerged, for example: Russia's military backing for the Assad regime in Syria, and alleged Russian interference in EU politics. In the short term, an easing of tensions seems unlikely. In March ...

Geographically distant and without historical ties to the region, the USA has never been a major player in Central Asia. However, both sides stand to gain from closer ties: for the USA, Central Asian countries are key partners in meeting security challenges; for Central Asia, benefits could include increased investment and reduced dependence on Russia and China, the two main regional powers.

Ásia Central

Fichas temáticas sobre a UE 01-09-2017

A Estratégia da UE para a Ásia Central, revista pela última vez em 2015, celebra o seu 10.º aniversário no presente ano. A estratégia tem como objetivo a estabilidade e a prosperidade, promovendo, ao mesmo tempo, sociedades abertas, o Estado de direito, a democratização e a cooperação no domínio da diversificação e da segurança energéticas. O Parlamento destacou a importância dos direitos humanos, da boa governação e do desenvolvimento social. Nestes países existem níveis muito díspares de desenvolvimento ...

China's role in Central Asia

Em síntese 07-06-2017

Since 2013, China's growing trade and investment in Central Asia have been boosted by its ambitious 'One Belt, One Road' project. However, China only has limited security involvement and soft power in the region, and it is not challenging Russian supremacy there for the time being.

Russia's role in Central Asia

Em síntese 13-03-2017

Some 25 years after the breakup of the USSR, Russia is still the dominant player in Central Asia. China and the EU have more trade and investment in the region, but Russia is in the lead on security and defence. Moscow consolidates its influence through a series of Russia-led regional organisations, such as the Eurasian Economic Union and the Collective Security Treaty Organisation.