Study on the Implementation of the EU-Central Asia Strategy
The 2019 EU Central Asia Strategy provides a broad strategic framework for cooperation with the five states in the region. With regard to the very young Central Asian population, the IEP study analyses the feasibility of a new youth policy dimension in the EU’s relations with Central Asia. The focus is on how the EU can contribute to providing high prospects for the youth population of Central Asia.
The study, prepared by IEP on behalf of the German Federal Foreign Office, analyses the challenges and potentials of a youth policy dimension in EU-Central Asia relations. A deepening of relations in youth policy is beneficial for both sides and does not directly challenge Chinese or Russian ambitions in the region. Furthermore, a youth policy dimension of the EU’s Central Asia policy offers the opportunity to improve the EU’s visibility in the region. To seize this opportunity, IEP makes concrete policy recommendations and proposes an intra-European division of labour to create the new youth policy dimension in EU-Central Asia relations.
A comprehensive analysis of the challenges and potentials is presented in the IEP Research Paper 1/2021 “Young Central Asia. Recommendations to the German Government for the Implementation of the EU-Central Asia Strategy”. A comprehensive package of priority measures to create a youth policy dimension in EU-Central Asia relations is proposed in the IEP Policy Paper on Eastern Europe and Central Asia 1/2021 “A Youth Policy Dimension of EU-Central Asia Relations. Priorities for the Implementation of the EU-Central Asia Strategy in the Area of Youth Policy”. The recommendations and findings were discussed in four online workshops with academics, government and civil society representatives from Europe and Central Asia.