European Union's relations with the New Independent States of central Asia

The Parliament adopted its report, drafted by Mr. Peter TRUSCOTT (PES, UK) concerning an EU strategy for relations with the Independent States of Central Asia. It drew attention to the unsatisfactory human rights abuses situation in all the Central Asian republics, and pointed out to the Commission that implementing fundamental rights and human rights must be an EU priority in those countries. It called on all Central Asian governments to further their efforts to abolish the death penalty and on the EU to support UN and OSCE initiatives in the field of conflict prevention and peacekeeping in the region. It recognised that political stability, both at State and regional level, is an essential factor in investment decisions. Parliament also called for: - more support through the Tacis Democracy Programme for NGOs so that they can monitor more effectively democracy and human rights, and for a suitable increase in appropriations for the democratisation process for the NIS, in particular for the partnership programmes which are of crucial importance in developing a civil society; - greater EU support in funding and technical assista,ce to help repair the environmental damage inflicted on Central Asia over the last 70 years; - the Commission and the Council to consider, together with the international financial institutions measures to help protect the population of the region against severe economic hardship resulting from the external effect of the Russian crisis.�