2012年-CEPS欧洲政策研究中心_The_EU_Strategy_for_Central_Asia__Year_One_10页_200kb

EUCAM: EU-Central Asia Monitoring Summary

Core Content

The document titled "The EU Strategy for Central Asia @ Year One" by Neil Melvin & Jos Boonstra provides an analysis of the European Union's engagement with Central Asia following the adoption of the EU-Central Asia Strategy in 2007. It outlines the initial objectives, achievements, and challenges of the Strategy, as well as the implications of the EU's approach on regional dynamics and its own interests.

Main Objectives of the Strategy

The EU Strategy for Central Asia aims to:

• Promote stability and prosperity in the region.
• Address common security challenges such as migration, organised crime, and terrorism.
• Foster the development of stable, just, and open societies aligned with international norms.
• Enhance European energy security through cooperation with Central Asian countries.
• Strengthen energy markets within Central Asia.
• Encourage intercultural dialogue and cooperation.

Key Achievements

• Strengthened Political Contacts: Intensified high-level political engagement with Central Asian states, including meetings between the EU Troika and the five Central Asian states.
• Human Rights Dialogue: All Central Asian states have agreed to structured human rights dialogues with the EU.
• Bilateral Priority Papers: Agreements were made between the EU and individual Central Asian governments outlining specific projects.
• Energy Cooperation: Initiatives such as the Baku Initiative and the Ashgabat Troika meeting showed progress in energy dialogue.
• Regional Security Forums: The Paris Ministerial Forum on Security Challenges marked a significant step in aligning EU and Central Asian priorities.

Challenges and Criticisms

• Narrow Security Focus: The Strategy has been criticized for emphasizing geopolitical security over broader human rights and democratic values.
• Limited Civil Society Engagement: The EU has not effectively involved civil society organizations in its initiatives, which has weakened its credibility and impact.
• Energy Dependence on Russia: The EU's energy engagement with Central Asia has not significantly reduced reliance on Russian pipelines, and the prospects for alternative routes like Nabucco or Trans-Caspian remain uncertain.
• Lack of Strategic Implementation: The Strategy has not been fully implemented in a coordinated and strategic manner, leading to a lack of clear progress in areas like democracy and good governance.

Regional Dynamics and Key Countries

Kazakhstan

• Rising Regional Leader: Kazakhstan has become a central figure in Central Asia, driven by its economic growth and hydrocarbon wealth.
• EU Engagement: Despite its growing importance, the EU has not fully recognized Kazakhstan's leadership role. The country is interested in closer ties with the EU, including participation in the European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP) and the Council of Europe.
• OSCE Chairmanship: Kazakhstan's 2010 OSCE Chairmanship offers an opportunity to reshape the organization and promote a more comprehensive approach to security.

Uzbekistan

• Central Role in the Strategy: The EU has focused on Uzbekistan due to its population size and geographic position, but this has led to internal divisions within the EU.
• Authoritarian Regime: Uzbekistan remains one of the most authoritarian states in the region, with limited prospects for reform.
• Security Concerns: The EU has faced challenges in engaging with Uzbekistan, particularly due to the 2005 uprising and subsequent repression.

Turkmenistan

• Reform Dynamics: Turkmenistan has shown a slight shift towards reform under the new leadership, offering opportunities for EU engagement.
• Human Rights Issues: Despite some reform efforts, Turkmenistan continues to face significant human rights concerns.

Conclusion and Recommendations

The document highlights the need for the EU to:

• Reintegrate Human Rights into the Strategy: Link human rights dialogues to broader reform initiatives and make them more impactful.
• Develop a Democratisation and Good Governance Initiative: Coordinate EU efforts and provide a clear rationale for its approach to democracy.
• Rebalance Energy and Human Dimension Priorities: Address the marginal impact of Central Asian gas exports to Europe and the risks associated with geopolitical dependence.
• Differentiate National Approaches: Recognize the distinct roles and potential of each Central Asian country to tailor EU engagement more effectively.

The EU's strategy for Central Asia, while ambitious, faces significant challenges in implementation and prioritization. A more nuanced and strategic approach is needed to ensure meaningful engagement and lasting impact in the region.