European Union must take greater interest in Central-Asia

European Union needs to activate its engagement in countries of Central-Asia, considering the rising security issues related to ISIL and the departure of international troops from Afghanistan, member of European Parliament, Urmas Paet, said in his application to EU High Representative Federica Mogherini.

According to Paet the pressure from Russia to the countries of Central-Asia has increased dramatically, concerning Russia’s desire to make these countries join the Eurasian Union. “European Union could offer greater cooperation and support for the development and regional balancing of Central-Asia countries. The growing security risks in the area influence Europe as well, for example the number of ISIL fighters from Central-Asia countries has increased as well as the Afghanistan extremists want to establish themselves in Central-Asia,” Paet said.

Paet noted that Russia’s pressure to those countries is increasing to force them to join the Eurasian Union. “Regarding the situation in Ukraine the frustration in Central-Asia, which is significant to EU for its energy prospective, has expanded as well,” he added.

Paet said that the EU has all possibilities to urgently implement its Central-Asia strategy and tighten the relations with the countries of Central-Asia.

Paet asked in his application to Mogherini what are the concrete short-term plans of EU external action services to tighten relations with those countries.

Of Central-Asia countries Estonia has its embassy in Kazakhstan, which is this year also a NATO contact point embassy.

Additional information:
urmas.paet@europarl.europa.eu
www.urmaspaet.eu