Menu
Latest
Menu
Latest
News

Tashkent hosts 4th EU-Central Asia civil society forum

13 March 2023

The Uzbek capital, Tashkent, hosted the 4th EU-Central Asia civil society forum on Friday (10 March). It involved almost 100 representatives of civil society from across the EU and Central Asia.

The forum explored the ways to complement the EU’s Global Gateway Strategy building on the outcomes of the Samarkand Connectivity Conference, which took place on 18 November 2022. 

The participants discussed how civil society could contribute to the development and implementation of the connectivity agenda, with a special focus on women, gender equality, and youth.

The event was commenced by the European Union Special Representative for Central Asia Terhi Hakala, Deputy Minister of Justice of Uzbekistan Alisher Karimov and the EU Ambassador in Uzbekistan Charlotte Adriaen.

EU's Global Gateway is also about "principles" of democratic values, high standards, good governance and transparency, and green transition

Speaking about the EU's Global Gateway Strategy, Terhi Hakala said: "Global Gateway is the EU’s positive offer to our partner countries in support of their own strategic autonomy. It stands for sustainable and trusted connections that work for people and the planet, to tackle the most pressing global challenges, from climate change and protecting the environment, to improving health security and boosting competitiveness and global supply chains. It covers five main sectors – digital, climate and energy, transport, health, and education and research."

She continued: "It might sound like it is about investment into hard infrastructure, but it is not. The ultimate goal is to deliver lasting social and economic benefits for local communities. So it is also about principles, which include democratic values, and high standards, good governance and transparency, green and clean transition and outcomes."

In her opening remarks, Ambassador Adriaen emphasised that the "EU will continue promoting an enabling environment allowing the civil society organizations to fulfill their functions as well as further support a meaningful and structured role for the CSOs in policy-making and strengthen CSOs capacity to function as independent players".

source: commonspace.eu with European Union
photo: European Union

Related articles

Editor's choice
News
Borrell tells the European Parliament that the situation in Afghanistan was critical, but the EU will remain engaged
Trending

Borrell tells the European Parliament that the situation in Afghanistan was critical, but the EU will remain engaged

9 June 2021
Borrell underlined that the European Union will make every effort to support the peace process and to remain a committed partner to the Afghan people. "Of course, we will have to take into account the evolving situation, but disengagement is not an option.  We are clear on that: there is no alternative to a negotiated political settlement, through inclusive peace talks.
Editor's choice
News
Tens of thousands of people protest in Georgia against "foreign agents" law
Trending

Tens of thousands of people protest in Georgia against "foreign agents" law

29 April 2024
Tens of thousands of people took to the streets of the Georgian capital Tbilisi on Sunday evening, to protest against a proposed law that would brand most of the country's civil society organisations as "foreign agents" for receiving financial support from overseas sources. With the government defiant, the country appears to be heading for one of its most acute political crisis in decades. The decision of the Georgian Dream government to defy the country’s president, opposition, civil society, and practically the entire international community, by re-introducing a controversial law which will categorise most civil society organisations as “foreign agents” has created a deep rift, with both sides adamant that they will take the issue “to the end” In the last few days, the streets of Tbilisi have been taken over by continuous mass rallies with the slogan “Yes to Europe, No to Russian Law”. Until last night protestors lacked a critical mass, but this has now changed. The protests are led mainly by youth and student organisations. The largely discredited Georgian opposition appears content to support the protests from behind.  So far there have been only a few incidents, but as the number of protestors grows, this can change very quickly. In the meantime, the government will today bring out its own supporters on the streets. The European Parliament last week called for sanctions against Georgian leaders, including the Honorary President and founder of Georgian Dream, Bidzina Ivanishvili. It is unlikely that the European Commission and European Council will do so yet, but this option is now seen not only as a distinct possibility, but as being inevitable if the Georgian government pushes ahead with the controversial law. Events on the ground will determine how fast things will move. Georgia faces difficult parliamentary elections in the autumn, but it seems the current crisis will come to a head before then.

Popular

Editor's choice
News
Tens of thousands of people protest in Georgia against "foreign agents" law
Trending

Tens of thousands of people protest in Georgia against "foreign agents" law

29 April 2024
Tens of thousands of people took to the streets of the Georgian capital Tbilisi on Sunday evening, to protest against a proposed law that would brand most of the country's civil society organisations as "foreign agents" for receiving financial support from overseas sources. With the government defiant, the country appears to be heading for one of its most acute political crisis in decades. The decision of the Georgian Dream government to defy the country’s president, opposition, civil society, and practically the entire international community, by re-introducing a controversial law which will categorise most civil society organisations as “foreign agents” has created a deep rift, with both sides adamant that they will take the issue “to the end” In the last few days, the streets of Tbilisi have been taken over by continuous mass rallies with the slogan “Yes to Europe, No to Russian Law”. Until last night protestors lacked a critical mass, but this has now changed. The protests are led mainly by youth and student organisations. The largely discredited Georgian opposition appears content to support the protests from behind.  So far there have been only a few incidents, but as the number of protestors grows, this can change very quickly. In the meantime, the government will today bring out its own supporters on the streets. The European Parliament last week called for sanctions against Georgian leaders, including the Honorary President and founder of Georgian Dream, Bidzina Ivanishvili. It is unlikely that the European Commission and European Council will do so yet, but this option is now seen not only as a distinct possibility, but as being inevitable if the Georgian government pushes ahead with the controversial law. Events on the ground will determine how fast things will move. Georgia faces difficult parliamentary elections in the autumn, but it seems the current crisis will come to a head before then.