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The European Union (EU) and Uzbekistan held their 13th Subcommittee meeting on Justice, Home Affairs, Human Rights and related issues November 8-9 in Brussels, the European External Action Service (EEAS) reported.

The Uzbek delegation was headed by Nodir Juraev, the country’s deputy minister of justice. The EU Delegation was headed by Toivo Klaar, head of the EEAS Central Asia Division.

The meeting was held in a constructive and open manner, with discussions between the parties covering a wide range of issues, including on further advancing cooperation between Uzbekistan and the EU, according to the EEAS, the EU diplomatic service.

The EU welcomed that a fully-fledged OSCE Election Observation Mission had been invited to monitor the December 4 presidential election in Uzbekistan, reads the message.

Persistent problems with freedom of expression and religion, the penitentiary system, women’s rights and vulnerable populations were discussed in detail, including individual cases, the message said.

The EU recognized significant efforts made by Uzbekistan to modernize relevant legislation, for example the upcoming reform of the judiciary system, the draft anti-corruption law and measures to improve the business climate. Economic and social rights were also discussed in this context.

On October 21, the Legislative (lower) Chamber of the Uzbek parliament adopted the draft law “On Combating Corruption” submitted by acting President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev as a legislative initiative.

In late October, Mirziyoyev also signed a decree on the introduction of a number of changes to the criminal law, criminal procedure, civil procedure and other kinds of Uzbek legislation aimed at improving the efficiency of the administration of justice.

Uzbekistan mentioned progress on rooting out child and forced labor in the cotton harvest and ratification of International Labor Organization (ILO) Conventions at the meeting, according to the EEAS.

Both sides emphasized the importance of continued monitoring and, more generally, cooperation with international and regional organizations, such as the UN, the ILO or the OSCE.

The talks between the delegations of Uzbekistan and the EU focused on issues such as violent extremism and radicalization, the fight against terrorism, illicit drugs, migration and border management.

Cooperation and dialogue programs such as BOMCA (Border Management Program in Central Asia) and CADAP (Central Asia Drug Action Program), as well as the European Rule of Law Initiative for Central Asia provide important support to these policy fields, the message said.

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