Agreement on EU-Kyrgyzstan cooperation changed for 1st time in 20 years

The groups of negotiators of Kyrgyzstan and the European Union are holding a second round of talks in Bishkek on the draft agreement on enhanced partnership and cooperation. This was announced today at the briefing by the head of the group of negotiators of the EU, Luc Devigne.

According to him, Central Asia once again acquires a high importance for the European Union, and Kyrgyzstan occupies a special place in the region.

«A special position is based on the fact that we share common values ​​such as democracy, human rights and the recent democratic transfer of power. The agreement between the European Union and Kyrgyzstan has been in force for more than 20 years. There have been changes in the European Union, its policies, and the situation in Kyrgyzstan has changed. Therefore, we will create a new treaty base. The European Union is ready and determined to develop our relations,» Luc Devigne stressed.

He said that the EU is ready to enter a new level of relations and support such projects in Kyrgyzstan as Taza Koom and providing the population with drinking water. The meeting of subcommittees on cooperation between the EU and Kyrgyzstan is a good opportunity to discuss all the issues in detail.

We are committed to the development of our relations. We are ready to be partners. We do not have a secret agenda. All we want is to develop the economy, improve stability for the benefit of the peoples of Central Asia.

Luc Devigne

«Our cooperation is based on three main sectors — education, the rule of law and the integrated development of rural regions. We had an opportunity to discuss trade and investment relations. It is pleasant to note that in 2017 the trade of Kyrgyzstan and the European Union grew by 48 percent, and the export of products from the Kyrgyz Republic to the EU — by 120 percent. We have the potential. The EU provided the Kyrgyz Republic with a generous scheme for duty-free import of about six thousand items. To use the scheme, it is necessary to implement 27 UN conventions in various spheres. Kyrgyzstan implements them. Monitoring of the implementation of the conventions will continue this year,» said Luc Devigne.