EU urged to put human rights centre stage at first central Asia summit
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EU, Central Asia Agree to Strengthen Relations at First Ever Summit
Above: Leaders' photo during the EU-Central Asia summit in Samarkand on April 4, 2025. Image copyright: Vyacheslav Oseledko\/AFP via Getty Images
The Spin
Pro-Europe narrative
Closer EU-Central Asia ties are a strategic necessity. As global power dynamics shift, the EU offers Central Asia a vital alternative to overreliance on Russia and China. The Trans-Caspian Corridor can unlock economic potential, while EU investment in green energy and digital connectivity promotes sustainable growth. With shared interests in security and stability, deeper cooperation will foster prosperity and resilience across Eurasia.
Establishment-critical narrative
The EU claims to champion democracy and human rights, yet it cozies up to Central Asian autocrats for energy and trade. Leaders like von der Leyen and Costa ignore repression, political prisoners, and media crackdowns while seeking new gas deals. By turning a blind eye to abuses, the EU sacrifices its principles for economic gain, eroding its credibility as a defender of democracy.