This policy brief by Saodat Umarova, PhD candidate at the University of World Economy and Diplomacy (UWED), examines how economic and energy cooperation with the European Union has become a key expression of Uzbekistan’s emerging “Western vector” in foreign policy. Against the backdrop of intensifying geopolitical competition and Central Asia’s search for diversified partnerships, the study situates Uzbekistan–EU relations within broader regional dynamics, showing how Tashkent increasingly looks to Europe not only as a market, but as a strategic partner in reform, modernisation and connectivity.
The brief first traces the evolution from the 1999 Partnership and Cooperation Agreement to the new Enhanced Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (EPCA), signed in 2025, which upgrades the relationship to a more institutionalised and strategic level. It highlights how the EPCA and Uzbekistan’s accession to the EU’s GSP+ scheme in 2021 have reshaped the legal and economic foundations of bilateral ties, accelerating trade growth and improving market access for Uzbek exports. Particular attention is given to the way trade preferences and regulatory convergence create both opportunities and obligations, linking economic benefits to progress on governance, labour rights and the rule of law.
A central part of the analysis is devoted to strategic sectors of cooperation that will define the future architecture of the partnership: energy, the green transition, critical raw materials and digital connectivity. The brief shows how European investment and technology support Uzbekistan’s ambitions in renewables and green hydrogen, while cooperation on critical minerals and infrastructure projects opens pathways for Uzbekistan’s integration into higher value-added segments of global supply chains. At the same time, EU-backed initiatives in digitalisation, cybersecurity and e-governance reinforce Uzbekistan’s bid to position itself as a regional digital and logistics hub.
Finally, the author places the bilateral agenda within the larger framework of EU–Central Asia connectivity strategies and Global Gateway investments, underlining both the scale of potential benefits and the structural challenges. She points to the need for sustained reforms in Uzbekistan, credible implementation of EU financial commitments, and careful geopolitical balancing vis-à-vis Russia, China and other external actors. Overall, the brief presents Uzbekistan–EU cooperation as a revealing test case of Uzbekistan’s multi-vector diplomacy: a promising Western-oriented trajectory that can strengthen the country’s resilience and modernisation, provided that both sides manage expectations and maintain long-term political and economic commitment.
* The Institute for Advanced International Studies (IAIS) does not take institutional positions on any issues; the views represented herein are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the IAIS.
