Uzbekistan, EU ready to accelerate signing of a new partnership agreement

On July 9-10, the fifth round of negotiations on the draft Expanded Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (AEPC) between the Republic of Uzbekistan and the European Union took place in the form of videoconferencing, the MFA reported.

Photo: EPA-EFE/JULIEN WARNAND

The delegations were led by Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Sherzod Asadov and Deputy Managing Director for Europe and Central Asia at the European External Action Service (EEAS) Luc Devigne.

During the negotiations, significant intensification of contacts at the highest level between Uzbekistan and the EU, as well as EU member states, was noted. In this context, a schedule of upcoming events at various levels planned for the second half of this year was considered.

The parties noted the progress achieved in the negotiation process and expressed their readiness to expedite the signing of EPCA, which will expand political, trade-economic and investment cooperation between Uzbekistan and the EU member states.

The new agreement is intended to replace the partnership and cooperation agreement between Uzbekistan and the EU effective since July 1, 1999.