The relations between the EU and Central Asia have been developing within the framework of the new EU Strategy on Central Asia, adopted by the Council of the European Union in June 2019. Together with the Joint Communication on "The EU and Central Asia: New Opportunities for a Stronger Partnership" by the High Representative and the European Commission, this new Strategy provides a new policy framework for EU engagement with the countries of Central Asia over the coming years, focusing on promoting resilience, prosperity, and regional cooperation in Central Asia. It reflects the new dynamics that have developed in the region in recent years, the new momentum in regional cooperation, and the fast development of initiatives aiming to connect Europe and Asia across the region.

Bilateral relations between Turkmenistan and the European Union are governed by an Interim Trade Agreement (1998), pending ratification of a Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (PCA) by the European Parliament.

Within the framework of this Agreement, the EU and Turkmenistan hold annual meetings of a bilateral Joint Committee to discuss key aspects of bilateral relations, notably in: (i) trade and economy; (ii) the EU-Central Asia Strategy implementation; (iii) political and economic developments; (iv) and key aspects of EU development cooperation programs. Nineteen meetings of a Joint Committee have been organized so far, most recently on 25th June 2020 (in a video conference format) .  

Relations between the European Parliament and Majlis of Turkmenistan are conducted through the mechanism of Inter-Parliamentary Meetings; the most recent 5^th EU-Turkmenistan Inter-Parliamentary Meeting was held in Brussels in on 2 December 2019.

The EU’s Development Cooperation Instrument (DCI) provides funding for development in the country. In this context, bilateral cooperation projects focus on economic reforms and privatization, education and capacity building, good governance and the rule of law, and sustainable energy. EU assistance for 2011-2013 was approximately EUR 39 million, the main focus being on education and legal reforms, the promotion of human rights, and economic and social sector reforms for sustainable development. 2014 - 2020 EU bilateral assistance is focused on education and vocational training (EUR 37 million for the period 2014-17). The EU and Turkmenistan also cooperate in the framework of the regional approach, which includes all five Central Asian republics. Regional cooperation projects focus on education, rule of law, water and environment, border management, fight against drug trafficking, private sector development,  support to investment, competitiveness and trade in Central Asia, and other areas.