Europe Day Address by H.E. Toivo Klaar, EU Ambassador to Uzbekistan

Europe Day Address by H.E. Toivo Klaar, EU Ambassador to Uzbekistan

Assalomu Alaykum!

Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen, dear guests,

Dear friends of the European Union and Uzbekistan,

Thank you for coming and for joining us tonight to celebrate Europe Day, which marks the declaration by Robert Schuman that laid the foundations for our current European Union. I particularly wish to welcome Mr. Jamshid Kuchkarov, Deputy Prime Minister - Minister of Economy and Finance of the Republic of Uzbekistan. We are honoured to host you, and your presence today reaffirms the warm relations between Uzbekistan and the European Union.

76 years ago, on the 9^th of May 1950, Robert Schuman voiced his vision of a united Europe. By proposing to create a European Coal and Steel Community, Schuman called for cooperation instead of rivalry, unity instead of division, peace instead of war. His vision inspired what is today the European Union, a political and economic union of 27 European States that has ensured peace, democracy, and economic prosperity on the European continent for almost 80 years.

The European Union was built on a simple yet powerful promise: that people shall live in freedom, that their rights will be protected, and that they will always be treated as equals. This still holds true inside the EU. However, the world around us is today marked by rising conflicts, economic disruption, and the ever-increasing impact of climate change. The fighting in the Middle East, has disrupted millions of people's lives. We have witnessed humanitarian catastrophes and we are all feeling the impact of disruptions to global trade and energy supplies. In all these cases, the EU continues to provide support to people affected by war, and we urge for de-escalation and maximum restraint, protection of civilians and civilian infrastructure, and full respect of international law by all parties.

Meanwhile, Russia continues its brutal war against Ukraine. Its blatant violation of its neighbour's sovereignty and territorial integrity poses a threat to us all. This is why the EU continues its unwavering support for Ukraine as it continues to successfully defend itself against Russia's full-scale invasion. As we celebrate our shared values of freedom, democracy, and equality, let us not forget that they need to be defended and protected, time and again.

At this moment in time, one fundamental truth of the European project stands out more than ever: shared challenges require shared solutions. No country can address today's global problems by itself. Climate change requires global cooperation; fair trade requires a common commitment to principles; peace respect for a rules-based order. It is for this reason that the European Union continues to build strong, fair, and reliable relationships across the globe, seeking win-win partnerships to address common challenges while upholding the rules-based international order that it has helped to build over almost 80 years.

Dear guests,

Driven by the will to protect shared values and address common challenges, Uzbekistan and the EU are ushering in a new era of strategic partnership. Last year's historic EU-Central Asia Summit in Samarkand is delivering tangible results, and today, I am proud to see that our relationship with Uzbekistan is deeper and stronger than ever.

The Summit was followed last October by President Mirziyoyev's successful visit to Brussels, where he together with Presidents Costa and von der Leyen attended the signing ceremony of our Enhanced Partnership and Cooperation Agreement. This Agreeement strengthens our relations in numerous areas, including trade and investment, sustainable development, connectivity, rule of law, and human rights.

In 2024, the EU was Uzbekistan's third-largest trade partner for imports and second-largest trade partner for exports, with a bilateral trade turnover of nearly 4.8 billion euros - nearly doubling since 2020. Our increasing economic ties benefit Uzbeks and Europeans from Lisbon to Andijan.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

The European Union is founded on the conviction that partnership creates value that is greater than the sum of its parts, which is reflected in our partnership with Uzbekistan. Through the international investment strategy of the European Union, which we call Global Gateway, the EU is supporting digital transformation by investing in satellite connectivity, in transport by building a more efficient Trans-Caspian Transport Corridor, in energy networks and better water management, as well as in critical raw materials and in sustainable agri-food value chains. The EU and the European Investment Bank, together with Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan, are investing 900 million Euros in the Kambarata hydropower plant in Kyrgyzstan, thereby contributing to regional energy and water security.

The EU also continues to promote regional stability and resilience through its partnership with Uzbekistan, because lasting security depends on shared prosperity and cooperation. Only yesterday we concluded a major exercise in Samarkand to prepare for the threats posed by chemical, biological, radiological or nuclear terrorism. Our joint efforts include the prevention of violent extremism and the strengthening of border security through the EU-funded Border Management Programme in Central Asia. We also saw the first regional counterterrorism dialogue held in July last year, and the EU Delegation has been strengthened through the arrival of a new counterterrorism expert in March of this year.

Through all these efforts, the EU is strongly supporting Central Asia and the five countries individually to be stronger, more self-sufficient and therefore less dependent on any outside actors. Because for us, this means having strong and reliable partners who support a stable international order, just as we will remain reliable partners for Uzbekistan.

Dear friends,

In an unpredictable world, partnership is power. Europe is and will remain a strong and reliable partner to Uzbekistan for business, cooperation, respect for international law, security and human dignity.

As an Uzbek proverb says - "Birlashgan kuch yengilmas" (Strength in unity is invincible).

I wish you all a happy Europe Day!

Thank you very much.

Welcome!