“Visa negotiations with Uzbekistan are a matter of time” – Interview with EU Ambassador Toivo Klaar
The European Union intends to bring relations with Uzbekistan to a new level. The summit in Samarkand and the comprehensive agreement signed in Brussels created the political foundation for this. Now, turning the agreements into practical results and expanding trade and transport links remain the main tasks.
“Visa negotiations with Uzbekistan are a matter of time” - Interview with EU Ambassador Toivo Klaar
- You have been working in Tashkent for two years. What main important changes in Uzbekistan–European Union relations would you note during this period?
- Well, three historic events took place during my time working here. The first, of course, was the summit held in Samarkand in the spring of 2025. Then, in the autumn of last year, President Mirziyoyev visited Brussels, and we signed the Enhanced Partnership and Cooperation Agreement. All these events symbolize that our relations are developing, strengthening, and moving to a new level.
Now, we must use these opportunities, in particular the Enhanced Partnership and Cooperation Agreement, to further develop our relations.
- What will the Enhanced Partnership and Cooperation Agreement change in practice for Uzbekistan?
- You mentioned above that this agreement expands the scope of our relations, but ultimately the agreement itself is merely a foundation for partnership. In it, both sides expressed their desire to expand the partnership and develop broader and deeper relations. However, what we bring into these relations depends on ourselves. First of all, it depends on how we organize the various structures outlined in the agreement and to what extent we utilize them.
For example, we now have a new Trade Council that did not exist before. We must launch the activities of this council and effectively use the opportunities created within the framework of the agreement.
Special attention is also paid to human rights, the rule of law, and good governance. Both sides agree that these principles are a very important foundation for our relations.
I emphasize once again that now the main task is to realize the expectations set out in the agreement in practice. The bilateral partnership agreement only creates a foundation. Making full use of its opportunities depends on us in Tashkent and Brussels, that is, the people who are developing these relations. By effectively using all mechanisms, we must truly bring our relations to a new level. I think we are working towards this.