Uzbekistan and EU plan to approve new partnership agreement 

On May 24, Deputy Prime Minister of Uzbekistan – Minister of Investments and Foreign Trade Sardor Umurzakov received the Special Representative of the European Union for Central Asia Peter Burian.

The parties discussed the current state of bilateral relations and prospects for political, trade-economic, investment, financial, technical and cultural-humanitarian cooperation.

During the dialogue, the sides identified priority areas for further interaction: an agreement to intensify joint work to increase trade between Uzbekistan and EU countries was reached. Peter Burian expressed the readiness of the EU to assist in conducting seminars to provide more information about the benefits of GSP + preferences among exporters and relevant ministries and departments.

Cooperation on Uzbekistan’s accession to the World Trade Organization will also continue – the sides will organize bilateral negotiations on the country’s access to the market of goods and services, as well as on agricultural support. In addition, Uzbekistan and the EU will intensify negotiations on the harmonization of the text of the Extended Partnership and Cooperation Agreement with a view to its adoption by the end of this year.

The new agreement is intended to replace the partnership and cooperation agreement between Uzbekistan and the EU that has been in force since July 1, 1999.