The Europe-Central Asia Monitoring (EUCAM) programme has been producing working papers, policy briefs, EUCAM Watch newsletters and commentaries since 2008. They are available on the official EUCAM website >

European development cooperation with Central Asia: From abstract to concrete

The European Union (EU) is a substantial development cooperation partner for Central Asia. As Central Asia has risen in prominence on the European foreign policy radar in recent years, there is increased interest among EU member states to be engaged with the region. But on what? This policy brief outlines eight connectivity project ideas that are characterised by human interaction, with long-term benefits for both Europe and Central Asia. Read more on the EUCAM website >

EU-Central Asia connectivity: Using all the pieces

The EU has embarked on a geopolitics-inspired connectivity agenda with Central Asia. While energy security and transition, as well as transport and digitalisation, are prioritised, these issues are being developed separately from ongoing work in the field of democratisation and civil society engagement. The EU should beef-up and integrate human connectivity into its corridor plans, as pipelines, roads, and data cables are only as valuable as people make them. Read more on the EUCAM website >

Commentary: The European Union and Central Asia: Bridging the Digital Divide

Alouddin Komilov

Digital transformation has become a major international development topic. In November 2022, the EU launched a Team Europe Initiative on Digital Connectivity in Central Asia. Whereas the initiative presents an opportunity to bridge the digital divide between Europe and Asia, there are also risks, particularly related to the diverging interests of other external actors and the region’s poor governance performance. Read more on the EUCAM website >

Commentary: Mission impossible: the Team Europe Initiative on Water, Energy, and Climate in Central Asia

Shyngys Zipatolla

In November 2022, the EU launched a Team Europe Initiative on Water, Energy, and Climate. Central Asia’s environmental problems, amidst challenging economic and political contexts, raise doubts over Brussels’ capacity to have a positive impact on such broad areas with only a limited budget at its disposal. Instead, the EU should focus on a few specific tangible projects that are realistic, while ensuring that Central Asian partners continue to regard Europe as a neutral and innovative partner. Read more on the EUCAM website >

Policy brief: ‘I still trust the Russian media more’: Narratives and perception of Russian propaganda in Kyrgyzstan

Rashid Gadbulhakov

Russian propaganda is dominating the media landscape in Kyrgyzstan, stirring anti-Western sentiment, promoting Russian narratives about its war in Ukraine, and emphasizing Kyrgyzstan’s dependence on Russia. This policy brief urges action by the Kyrgyz authorities, donors, journalists, civil society, and researchers. Read more on the EUCAM website >