In the article, the author writes that Shavkat Mirziyoyev’s visit to Brussels on October 23–24, 2025, was a turning point in relations between Uzbekistan and the EU thanks to the signing of the Enhanced Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (EPCA). According to him, the document replaced the outdated 1996 PCA and will elevate the dialogue to the level of a strategic partnership covering five key areas with an emphasis on democratic principles, the rule of law, and human rights. The author emphasizes that for the EU, t