Azernews.Az

Uzbekistan's Foreign Ministry and the EU Special Representative for Central Asia Patricia Flor have discussed the prospects for the development of cooperation in the political, trade, economic, investment, cultural and humanitarian fields, the ministry said on Monday.

Patricia Flor heads the EU delegation, which arrived in Tashkent on Sunday.

During a meeting at the Foreign Ministry, the sides discussed the implementation of the EU strategy in Central Asia, joint programs and projects.

As noted, at present, Uzbekistan and the EU have established a solid institutional framework in the form of joint bilateral and multilateral cooperation agencies.

Uzbekistan's relations with the European states develop at the bilateral level and within the framework of the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement between the country and European Communities and their Member States, which entered into force on July 1, 1999.

Total trade of Uzbekistan and the countries - members of the European Union in 2012 exceeded $ 2.3 billion. There are 875 enterprises established in the republic in various sectors of the economy with European capital.

Uzbekistan and the EU hold regular dialogue between government agencies and civil society institutions within the reform of the judicial system and liberalization of the criminal law.

The sides exchanged views on certain international and regional issues.

The meeting was attended by the Head of the EU delegation in Uzbekistan, Ambassador Yuri Sterk.