The EU and Central Asia Discussed Cooperation on Critical Raw Materials

Meeting of the Ambassadors of Central Asian countries in Belgium with Audrone Perkauskiene, January 30, 2026, Brussels, Belgium (Photo: Embassy of Turkmenistan in Belgium)

On Monday in Brussels, the ambassadors of Central Asian countries to the Kingdom of Belgium met with Audrone Perkauskiene, Deputy Managing Director for Eastern Europe and Central Asia at the European External Action Service, to discuss key areas of cooperation, including transport connectivity, energy, and critical raw materials. This was reported by the Embassy of Turkmenistan in Belgium.

The meeting focused on strengthening interregional cooperation and enhancing bilateral and regional dialogue between the European Union and Central Asian countries. Participants discussed opportunities for the next stages of ministerial-level cooperation, as well as prospects for further development of the EU–Central Asia summit format.

Special attention was paid to the practical implementation of the agreements reached during the talks.

The European side emphasized the strategic importance of Central Asia for the EU and expressed its readiness to support stability in the region.

Previously, the European Union prepared a €12 billion investment package for Central Asian countries under the “Global Gateway” initiative.