This article is devoted to the relations between the European Union and the Central Asian republics. It discusses a number of internal and external factors that may affect the development of bilateral and multilateral relations. These factors force the European Union to pursue a balanced policy in the region. The success of the Union's policy in Central Asia depends on the stable maintenance of this balance. In this sense, the author likens the European Union to a tightrope walker performing a grand spectacle.

European Union, Central Asia, strategy

“The EU and Central Asia: Strategy for a New Partnership”. Council of the European Union, Brussels, 31 May 2007, 10113/07/PESC 655/COEST 179: http://register.consilium.europa.eu/pdf/en/07/st10/st10113.en07.pdf

Neil Winn & Stefan Gänzle (2022): Recalibrating EU Foreign Policy Vis-à-vis Central Asia: Towards Principled Pragmatism and Resilience, Geopolitics, DOI: 10.1080/14650045.2022.2042260: https://eprints.whiterose.ac.uk/184142/1/Recalibrating%20EU%20Foreign%20Policy%20Vis%20vis%20Central%20Asia%20Towards%20Principled%20Pragmatism%20and%20Resilience.pdf: Ultimately, the EU Strategy on Central Asia of 2007 has failed to “Europeanize” the domestic politics of Central Asian states that remain impervious to democracy promotion, Western human rights regimes, and shared policy discourses.

Joint Communication to the European Parliament and the Council. “The EU and Central Asia: New Opportunities for a Stronger Partnership” /Brussels, 15.05.2019 JOIN (2019): https://eeas.europa.eu/sites/default/files/joint_communication_-_the_eu_and_central_asia_-_new_opportunities_for_a_stronger_partnership.pdf; Council Conclusions on the New Strategy on Central Asia /Official Document of the Council of the European Union/Brussels, 17 June 2019_ (OR. En) 10221/19_COEST 139 (English): https://www.consilium.europa.eu/media/39778/st10221-en19.pdf

Peyrouse, S. (2017), A Donor without Influence: The European Union in Central Asia, PONARS Eurasia Policy Memo No. 478, р.3; cited by Ana-Maria Anghelescu. European Union and Central Asia – past directions and future perspectives. CES Working Papers/ 2018 – Volume X(3) /wwww.ceswp.uaic.ro / ISSN: 2067 – 7693: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/329000578_European_Union_and_Central_Asia_-_Past_Directions_and_Future_Perspectives “The EU is a less visible actor in the region and, despite the preponderant optimist tone of the four Progress Reports (2008, 2010, 2012 and 2015), the concrete results are lacking, mainly because the objectives are too broad, while the means are to narrow”.