Baku, Azerbaijan, April 4. The EU will sign
joint declaration on critical raw materials cooperation with
Central Asia, said European Commission President Ursula von der
Leyen at the EU-Central Asia summit in Samarkand, Uzbekistan,
Trend reports.
Von der Leyen highlighted the existing cooperation agreements
with Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan on critical materials, stating,
“Today, we are taking this partnership to the next level by signing
a joint declaration of intent on critical raw materials. This will
attract significant private investment to the region. This
partnership will benefit both Europe and Central Asia, as your
strategic autonomy aligns with our strategic interests.”
“Your countries are rich in natural resources. The region holds
40% of the world’s manganese reserves, as well as vast deposits of
lithium, graphite, and other minerals. These minerals are the
lifeblood of the global economy in the future, but they also
attract global players,” she said.
She also noted that Europe is focused not just on raw material
extraction but on developing local industries. “Europe approaches
this differently. We want to be your partners in growing your local
industries. It’s crucial that the added value stays within the
region,” she added.
Von der Leyen emphasized that European companies are already
heavily invested in the region, citing the Almalyk Mining and
Metallurgical Complex in Uzbekistan as a key example, where 1.6
billion euros have been invested. “This project is not just about
copper extraction; it’s also about local mineral processing. It
creates jobs and adds value,” she explained.
The European Commission President expressed confidence that, by
working together, local industries could be developed throughout
the entire value chain—from mining to processing. “We can open new
laboratories, train workers locally. We want to create long-term
partnerships that will benefit our citizens and their children,
ensuring a secure future,” she concluded.