The European Union senior officials are expecting the Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev to Brussels in early 2019, said Iveta Grigule-Peters, the Chair of the Delegation for Relations with the Countries of Central Asia and Mongolia (DCAS) Iveta Grigule-Pēterse said on Thursday during the 14th meeting of the Uzbekistan-EU Parliamentary Cooperation Committee in Tashkent.
“Brussels is expecting Shavkat Mirziyoyev - and the beginning of 2019 would be just the right time, if possible,” she said in her opening remarks.
She added that Shavkat Mirziyoyev’ visit would provide an opportunity to concretize the cooperation between Uzbekistan and the EU for the next five to ten years. “It would preferable not to postpone it for another year. This is the wish [of the European External Relations Service] that I am conveying,” she nooted.
“The EU closely followed the visit of the Uzbek President to France on October 8-9, which was well covered in the mass media. The visit was a very successful one,” added Iveta Grigule-Peters.
In July, the EU Council officially endorsed the start of negotiations with Uzbekistan on expanded partnership and cooperation. According to the council, this will help create a favorable business and investment environment and ensure cooperation on foreign policy issues and global challenges such as climate change, corruption and the fight against terrorism.
