Report: EU energy policy to focus on Central Asia
Regional-European Union, Economics, 2/4/2007

The EU should strengthen contacts with authoritarian regimes in central Asia in order to secure energy resources that are of "permanent strategic importance," according to a 15-page confidential strategy paper drafted by the European Commission.

The Brussels-based 'European Voice' weekly said the document prepares the ground for a "dramatic shift" in EU policy on central Asia and warns that the EU has lost out because of previous policies which put a strong emphasis on human rights.

"The stakes are very high for the future of EU relations with Central Asia," says the document, noting that the US, Russia and China have "seized in the last 15 years opportunities which were neglected by the EU." Despite the EU's interest in central Asian energy, ties between the EU and the region have been strained over human rights abuses, particularly in Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan.

While stressing the need for good governance to avoid creating new failed states and an increase in radicalism, the paper states: "EU policies of limiting engagement have not had the desired impact." The EU should now shift its focus toward what is described as a "security, governance and resources partnership, advocates the document." Germany has made developing ties with central Asia one of the priorities for its six-month EU presidency.

It hopes EU leaders will agree to a new strategy on central Asia when they meet on 21-22 June in Brussels, said the weekly paper.

The EU special representative for central Asia, Pierre Morel, has also drafted ideas for a future strategy for the region.

Discussion on the Commission's paper were to begin on Friday (2 February) when EU ambassadors met in Brussels.

EU commissioner for external relations, Benita Ferrero-Waldner has visited the region recently to promote EU ties with Central Asia.

The EU document also stresses the need to bring Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan into the international economy in order to ensure stability.

Meantime, Germany is seeking to expand its energy ties with the Persian Gulf region, Chancellor Angela Merkel announced during her weekly taped video message on Saturday.

"Today the region still has relatively little significance (for Germany) with regard to the delivery of natural gas and oil," said Merkel, who departed earlier today day for a four-day visit to Egypt and the Persian Gulf region.

"We can further expand our ties in the area of energy policy," the German leader added.

Meantime, the Washington Post reported this week that "The Bush administration is warning European oil and gas companies against investing in Iran, trying to head off a push by Tehran to attract new investment."

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