The tenth round of the annual High-Level Political and Security Dialogue between the European Union and the countries of Central Asia (Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan) took place in Astana, Kazakhstan, on 13th June 2023.

The High Level Political and Security Dialogue took place shortly after the second regional high-level meeting of the Heads of State of Central Asia and the President of the European Council on 2 June  in Cholpon-Ata, Kyrgyzstan, which highlighted the new level of the interregional cooperation reached between Central Asia and the European Union.

The High-Level Political and Security Dialogue meeting provided an opportunity for the EU to reiterate its strong commitment to the region, which continues to be confronted to the repercussions of Russia's military aggression against Ukraine and the negative developments in Afghanistan. On this occasion, the EU reaffirmed its willingness to support all efforts aiming to intensify EU cooperation with Central Asia.

The EU reiterated its wish to step up cooperation with the region in the management of water-related challenges, energy and climate change and on connectivity, building on the outcomes of the EU-Central Asia Connectivity Conference in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, on 18 November 2022, and the EU-Central Asia Economic Forum in Almaty, Kazakhstan, on 18 and 19 May 2023.    

The participants exchanged views on a number of key issues, including counter-terrorism and violent extremism, drug trafficking and border management, and reviewed possibilities for reinforced cooperation in these areas. It was agreed to intensify common efforts between the EU and Central Asian states in these areas.

The High-Level Political and Security Dialogue reflects a shared interest of the EU and of the Central Asian countries to strengthen dialogue and cooperation on security issues. It also builds on the intensified levels of cooperation developed through the EU – Central Asia Strategy and the substantial EU cooperation programmes in the region.

During the Dialogue, participants discussed the preparation of the forthcoming EU-Central Asia Ministerial Meeting, which will provide an opportunity to advance inter-regional cooperation on common security challenges, connectivity, economic and trade, environment, water and climate, education, science and innovation issues, and people to people contacts, promoting deeper ties between the EU and Central Asia.

The meeting was held at the level of Deputy Ministers of Foreign Affairs, hosted by the Deputy Foreign Minister of Kazakhstan Mr Roman Vassilenko and chaired by Mr Enrique Mora, Deputy Secretary General for Political Affairs of the European External Action Service.

The High-Level Political and Security Dialogue is held regularly; the first Dialogue took place in 2013 in Brussels. The next round will be held in 2024.