European Parliament welcomes Uzbekistan’s commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions

The European Parliament has welcomed Uzbekistan’s commitment to reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 2030.

The Central Asian nation's efforts in this direction were reflected in a report prepared by the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the European legislature. The document states that the European Parliament encourages Uzbekistan, as the top electricity producer in Central Asia, to prioritise sustainable energy solutions for the region’s long-term benefit. It also calls on Uzbekistan to continue with, and step up, its green transition programmes in line with the Paris Climate Agreement, of which Uzbekistan is a signatory.

The European Parliament also drew attention to the difficulties of Uzbekistan in light of the current geopolitical situation. Thus, the desire of the republic's leadership to diversify economic and trade dependence on Russia through cooperation with European countries was emphasised.

In addition, MEPs noted Uzbekistan's membership in the EU system of preferences, which contributes to the country's economic growth. For example, in 2021, Uzbekistan's exports to Europe increased by more than a third.

Despite previous progress, the European Parliament called on Uzbekistan to comply with the requirements of 27 international conventions and provide reporting under the general system of preferences of the EU.

"We draw attention to potential risks of Uzbekistan’s possible assistance to Russia, as it may be aiding Russia in circumventing trade sanctions imposed by the EU," the resolution says.

The proposals included in the document also contain:

• a call to explore Uzbekistan's potential for building trade and economic relations with the EU;
• the highlighting of the potential role of Uzbekistan in the diversification of supply chains related to the interests of European industry;
• a call to Uzbekistan to promote the creation of independent and alternative trade unions in all sectors of the economy;
• the highlighting of the potential of Trans-Caspian transport routes in connecting Uzbekistan with promising sales markets.