Deputy Prime Minister Jamshid Khodjaev, Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen, 

Dear friends of the European Union and Uzbekistan.

Good evening, and thank you for joining us today for Europe Day; a day that commemorates a historic speech that laid the foundation for today’s European Union. 

I also want to recognise the new EU Special Representative for Central Asia, Ambassador Eduards Stiprais, who is a man that many of you will know and who joins us here today.

Europe Day is a celebration of unity in diversity, of very different nations choosing cooperation over conflict, of people embracing a European identity, of decades of peace, democracy, economic prosperity, innovation and technological progress. 

75 years ago, Robert Schuman’s speech proposing the creation of a Coal and Steel Community was a bold vision of unity. Today, it gives us hope that the right vision at the right time can have a lasting positive impact on hundreds of millions of people.

Ladies and gentlemen,

In a world increasingly challenged by polarization and conflict, the principles embodied by the European Union - democracy, rule of law, inclusiveness, and respect for human dignity - are more relevant than ever.

More than three years ago, Russia’s war of aggression brought death and destruction back to Europe. Today, the war continues unabated. While there are diplomatic attempts to end the conflict, the EU and our partners have been adamant in stating that nothing about Ukraine must be decided without the Ukrainians. Furthermore, without the EU’s involvement there cannot be a fair and lasting peace. 

Meanwhile, in the Middle East, we see a huge humanitarian catastrophe unfolding, with the population of Gaza facing famine and death due to the ongoing violence. The EU continues to provide humanitarian assistance to the Palestinian people and to push for peace, while also recalling its longstanding commitment to a resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict based on a two-state solution.

Beyond conflict zones, rising economic protectionism and global trade tensions, including the imposition of tariffs, have complicated the international trading system and have strained global supply chains. We know that such measures will hurt everyone, consumers, businesses and countries. 

These challenges - geopolitical, humanitarian, and economic - underscore the need for international collaboration. 

In this context, the EU welcomes the path of cooperation chosen by our Central Asian partners and the fact that Uzbekistan is leading these efforts. 

As President Mirziyoyev recently said: It is the openness of Central Asia and its readiness for mutually beneficial cooperation with all partners that became the condition for ensuring the security and prosperity of the region.

The Consultative Meetings of the Heads of State of Central Asia have already become a tradition. A month ago we witnessed the historic trilateral meeting of the heads of states of Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan to confirm their commitment to cross-border cooperation and development. The EU is ready to support these efforts at regional cooperation and integration, based on our unique historical experience.  

Both European and Central Asian countries have understood that our well-being is interconnected with that of our neighbours and partners. And the EU is committed to working with our friends to navigate today’s uncertainties together, with a commitment to peace, stability, and a rules-based international order.

Dear guests,

Our relationship with Uzbekistan is strong. Last year we celebrated 30 years of diplomatic relations and I believe we can say with certainty that our bonds will only grow stronger over the coming 30 years.

Over the last 12 months, the EU engaged in almost 900 events, conferences, and meetings with our Uzbek colleagues from government, business and civil society.

In the first five months of 2025, we have witnessed an exceptional level of engagement with several high-level visits, including the GSP+ monitoring mission, the 18th EU-Uzbekistan Parliamentary Cooperation Committee Meeting, and of course the visits of Commissioner Sikela and High Representative Kallas. 

But the real highlight of our cooperation came one month ago when the first EU-Central Asia Summit took place in Samarkand. During the Summit it was decided to elevate our relations to the level of a strategic partnership between the EU and Central Asia and to mobilize additional funds for this purpose. 

As President von der Leyen said during the historic event: Together we can develop closer relations that will benefit both regions, strengthening them through new connections, friendships and trade networks.

These commitments reflect a shared vision and a joint strategic alignment: we share a vision of an Uzbekistan that is better connected to global markets, better equipped for green growth, and more empowered through knowledge and innovation. 

Ladies and gentlemen,

The EU is a partner for prosperity – we are committed to open economies and rules-based trade that contribute to sustainable development, and we want to strengthen mutual economic resilience and security. Therefore, the EU is also Uzbekistan’s main provider of technical assistance for its WTO accession process.

Our bilateral trade and investment relations are steadily growing. In 2024, the EU27 was Uzbekistan’s third-largest trading partner. We also make sure that Uzbekistan fully benefits from the boost of trade and contacts, not only as a transit country, but also as a fully integrated partner.

Via the Global Gateway, the EU is investing in key infrastructure such as the Trans-Caspian Transport Corridor, sustainable critical raw materials value-chains, the National Spatial Data Infrastructure as well as irrigation systems. What distinguishes the EU as a partner is that we create value through our projects, by investing in local capital and sustainable supply chains. Women and men across Uzbekistan feel the direct impact via better services, clean water, stable electricity supply and safer borders. 

Moreover, we work closely with European financial institutions that offer very favourable loans backed by the EU that can be used for strategic projects. In this context, the signature of the Host Country Agreement between Uzbekistan and the European Investment Bank is an milestone. 

We also believe that connectivity brings prosperity – and this includes not only roads and railways. Linkages are crucial for the exchange of goods, but also for the exchange of human capital and information that can also benefit younger generations. I want to underline that the European Union is ready to support Uzbekistan in earth observation and in acquiring satellite internet connectivity that can provide the country with independent and competitively priced high-speed connections even in hard to reach areas. This has the potential to improve both educational and business opportunities for communities that would otherwise be at a disadvantage. 

The EU is a principled and reliable partner. In times of constant change, the EU is here to provide predictability. The GSP+ special incentive arrangement for Sustainable Development and Good Governance, which offers suspensions for 66% of duty lines is a great example of the long-term agreements that the EU and Uzbekistan benefit from. 

Thanks to GSP+, we see an increase in Uzbekistan’s exports to the EU and together we engage on Uzbekistan’s commitments towards the implementation of 27 UN conventions related to human, labour and environmental rights. 

We see the full implementation of these conventions as essential building blocks for the building of a successful society. That is why that is a condition for GSP+. Respect for the rule of law and human rights, and support for a vibrant civil society and independent journalism are not only strong EU priorities but also foundations for creating a healthy investment environment attractive to European businesses. 

The EU is a partner for security – we work to promote security and stability worldwide. The EU is well-known for its whole-of-society approach to security, which means brings together different actors and engaging on a variety of topics to create inclusive and peaceful societies. 

That is why we finance multiple programmes to counter violent extremism and radicalization, and why we engage with vulnerable communities. We also support education and training via our Erasmus+ programme, working together with students, academia, and think tanks. 

We also support responsible water management and the tackling of climate change through innovation and development, because we understand that water scarcity and climate change can become a driver of conflict. The EU Member States’ ambassadors recently visited the Fergana Valley and saw tangible results of EU-funded projects that were greatly appreciated by the local farmers. 

Ministers, Excellences, dear guests

What is next? We are expecting President Mirziyoyev to visit Brussels later this year to sign the Enhanced Partnership and Cooperation Agreement. This historic visit will open a new chapter as we will deepen, diversify, and modernize EU-Uzbek relations across multiple dimensions.

We also plan to hold the next EU-Central Asia Economic and Investors’ Forums in November, where new business possibilities will be explored. We also look forward to the next Human Rights Dialogue to continue our important exchanges on this topic. Finally, we will naturally also continue to build on the achievements of the previous months.

Our partnership is deeper than ever, encompassing multiple sectors and actors. We learn from each other and we progress together. 

Happy Europe Day. 

Thank you. Katta rahmat