The relations between the EU and Central Asia have developed further since the European Council adopted The EU and Central Asia: Strategy for a New Partnership in June 2007. This strategy has strengthened ties in all areas through political dialogue, dialogues on human rights and cooperation programmes. The EU last assessed the advances made in its 2018 Council Conclusions, which confirmed the EU’s commitment to its strategic objectives and to supporting political and economic reform in Central Asia, expressing at the same time need to review and renew its relationship with Central Asia, taking into account new geopolitical realities and the evolving needs and capacities of this region’s partners. The Council invited the High Representative and the Commission to come forward with a proposal for a new Strategy by the end of 2019 in accordance with the EU Global Strategy, taking stock of the achievements of EU action in support of Central Asia since the adoption of the current strategy.

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 some EU Member States and 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. Seventeen meetings of a Joint Committee have been organized so far, most recently in Ashgabat on 5th December 2017.  

First preparatory meeting of an ad-hoc Working Group on Education and Culture was held in Ashgabat on 26 April 2017.

Relations between the European Parliament and Majlis of Turkmenistan are conducted through the mechanism of Inter-Parliamentary Meetings; the most recent 4^th EU-Turkmenistan Inter-Parliamentary Meeting was held in Ashgabat on 19-20 April 2017. 

he 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 and the fight against drug trafficking.