On July 6 this year, the 18th meeting of the Uzbekistan-EU Cooperation Committee was held in Brussels. The European delegation was headed by Deputy Managing Director for Europe and Central Asia of the European External Action Service (EEAS) Luke Devine, while the Uzbek delegation was headed by First Deputy Minister of Investments and Foreign Trade L.Kudratov.

During the event, the current state and prospects for the development of bilateral relations were discussed, and views were exchanged on topical issues of regional and international cooperation.

The European side welcomed the completion of the negotiation process and the approval of the text of the Enhanced Partnership and Cooperation Agreement between Uzbekistan and the EU. It was emphasized that the initialed draft Agreement is the result of close and coordinated joint work. The document is intended to open a completely new page in the relations between Uzbekistan and the EU.

Cooperation plans for the near and long-term prospects were discussed in detail. So, this year it is planned to hold a ministerial meeting and an international conference in the EU-Central Asia format on strengthening interconnectedness in Samarkand. The parties also decided to agree in the near future on the timing of the organization of the next meeting of the Uzbekistan-EU Cooperation Council in Brussels.

It was noted that the EU's beneficiary status of the Generalized System of Preferences Plus "GSP+" extended to Uzbekistan makes a significant contribution to the diversification and development of trade and economic relations between Uzbekistan and the EU. It was emphasized that starting from 2024, the European Commission plans to strengthen the requirements for the GSP+ system and supplement it with 6 new international conventions that had already been ratified by Uzbekistan.

The European side announced its intention to start practical implementation of the Indicative Program of Financial and Technical Assistance for 2021-2024 in the amount of 83 million euros as soon as possible. The program includes such areas as effective public administration and digital transformation, "green" development, inclusive growth, development of a "smart", environmentally friendly agro-food sector, improving the well-being of rural areas.

Other issues on the meeting agenda were also discussed. The reforms carried out in Uzbekistan to improve the investment climate and develop the business environment in the country were positively assessed. Support was expressed for the measures taken by the country to join the World Trade Organization.

As a result of the negotiations, an agreement was reached on close cooperation and joint work in order to accelerate and successfully implement joint initiatives within the framework of the European Commission's program cycle until 2027.