On October 24, in the city of Brussels, in the presence of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev, the President of the European Council António Costa, and the President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen, a solemn ceremony was held to sign the Agreement on Enhanced Partnership and Cooperation between the Republic of Uzbekistan and the European Union.

The document renews and significantly expands the legal framework of Uzbekistan–EU cooperation, which has so far been based on the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement signed in 1996.

Negotiations on the draft of the new Agreement began in February 2019 and were completed in July 2022. The initialing took place on July 6, 2022, in Brussels.

The document consists of 9 sections, 356 articles, and 14 annexes. It covers virtually all areas of bilateral relations and establishes a comprehensive legal foundation for strengthening political dialogue and deepening cooperation across all mutually beneficial spheres — with special emphasis on trade and investment, sustainable development, science and education, innovation and high technologies, the environment, and climate change.

The signing of the Agreement marks the beginning of a new stage in Uzbekistan’s relations with the EU and elevates their multifaceted partnership to an unprecedentedly high level.