Enhanced Partnership and Cooperation Agreement between the European Union, of the one part, and the Republic of Uzbekistan, of the other part

Amendments tabled for the plenary sitting on this text, in their own numbering series. This is a different set from the committee amendments tracked elsewhere on AmendEU, and is not counted in any of the site’s amendment totals.

1. Amendment 1S&D, Verts/ALEMotion for a resolution · Paragraph 37 a (new)
   Amendment

   37a. Is concerned about the growing evidence that Uzbekistan has weaponised international and regional legal cooperation mechanisms for transnational repression against activists, journalists, human rights defenders and trial monitors; notes that this includes misuse of INTERPOL notices and diffusions, mutual legal assistance requests, and cooperation on anti-money laundering and countering the financing of terrorism to pursue politically motivated extradition, detention or forcible return of individuals; calls on Uzbekistan to fully respect the principle of non-refoulement;

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2. Amendment 2ESNMotion for a resolution · Recital H
   Current text

   H. whereas Uzbekistan has benefited from unilateral and preferential access to the EU market through the Generalised Scheme of Preferences Plus (GSP+) since 2021, and its current status is valid until 2027; whereas Uzbekistan has acceded to 27 international conventions related to labour and human rights, environmental and climate protection, and good governance in order to benefit from this scheme;

   Amendment

   H. whereas Uzbekistan has benefited from unilateral and preferential access to the EU market through the Generalised Scheme of Preferences Plus (GSP+) since 2021, and its current status is valid until 2027; whereas the continuation of Uzbekistan’s participation in this scheme beyond 2027 must be strictly conditional upon the full and verifiable implementation of all 27 international conventions to which Uzbekistan has acceded, and must be subject to a rigorous cost-benefit assessment for EU industry and Member State economies prior to any renewal decision;

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3. Amendment 3ESNMotion for a resolution · Recital I
   Current text

   I. whereas the EU has allocated EUR 43 million for new bilateral programmes between 2025 and 2027, focusing on support for democratic governance and digital transformation, inclusive digital and green growth, and the development of a smart and eco-friendly agri-food sector; whereas Uzbekistan also benefits from a number of regional EU programmes and investments under the European Fund for Sustainable Development (EFSD+), Global Gateway’s main financial tool;

   Amendment

   I. whereas the EU has committed over EUR 119 million in bilateral grants to Uzbekistan since 2021, in addition to substantial support from regional EU programmes under the European Fund for Sustainable Development (EFSD+) and the Global Gateway; whereas European taxpayers’ money should only be allocated where concrete benefits for the EU and its Member States can be established;

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4. Amendment 4ESNMotion for a resolution · Recital I a (new)
   Amendment

   Ia. whereas the European Union should not use its taxpayers’ money to fund programmes in Uzbekistan based on ideological criteria;

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5. Amendment 5ESNMotion for a resolution · Recital N
   Current text

   N. whereas Uzbekistan is the EU’s second-largest trading partner in Central Asia, with the total value of trade between Uzbekistan and the EU at almost EUR 4.8 billion in 2024; whereas the EU is Uzbekistan’s third-largest trading partner: in 2024, 10.4 % of trade was with the EU and 7.2 % of exports went to the EU;

   Amendment

   N. whereas Uzbekistan is the EU’s second-largest trading partner in Central Asia, with the total value of trade between Uzbekistan and the EU at almost EUR 4.8 billion in 2024; whereas the EU is Uzbekistan’s third-largest trading partner: in 2024, 10.4 % of trade was with the EU and 7.2 % of exports went to the EU; whereas the EU Member States need to tap into this economic potential in order to increase the opportunities for European companies to access Uzbekistan’s market of 38.2 million consumers;

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6. Amendment 6ESNMotion for a resolution · Recital N a (new)
   Amendment

   Na. whereas Uzbekistan holds substantial natural gas reserves and is among the world’s leading uranium producers; whereas these resources are of strategic importance for the energy security of the EU Member States and for reducing dependence on single-source suppliers;

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7. Amendment 7ESNMotion for a resolution · Recital T a (new)
   Amendment

   Ta. whereas Uzbekistan has adopted a ‘limited recognition’ policy towards the Taliban, focusing on security, economic cooperation and regional stability; whereas Uzbekistan has accepted a Taliban-appointed ambassador;

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8. Amendment 8ESNMotion for a resolution · Paragraph 3
   Current text

   3. Stresses that Parliament’s consent to the EPCA constitutes a strategic investment in the EU-Uzbekistan partnership and should be understood as a tool to foster long-term engagement, stability and cooperation, contributing to the EU’s broader strategy in Central Asia and to balanced international alignment;

   Amendment

   3. Stresses that Parliament’s consent to the EPCA must serve the concrete economic and security interests of the European Union and its Member States; emphasises that the EPCA should function as a framework for mutually advantageous cooperation; insists that any engagement must deliver measurable benefits to the EU Member States;

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9. Amendment 9ESNMotion for a resolution · Paragraph 6 a (new)
   Amendment

   6a. Is worried that the EU risks being sidelined in a region where big powers compete for influence and resources; considers that energy and resource supply should be a key part of a strengthened partnership as this would bolster the EU’s energy security and strengthen its strategic position; calls, therefore, for the EU to set aside its political conditionality approach and follow a strategy that aims to facilitate investment in critical raw materials and renewable energy;

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10. Amendment 10ESNMotion for a resolution · Paragraph 6 b (new)
    Amendment

    6b. Notes that the agreements on critical raw materials are not yet backed by significant financing and that the mobilisation of EU resources remains slow;

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11. Amendment 11ESNMotion for a resolution · Paragraph 21 a (new)
    Amendment

    21a. Emphasises that water management is a structural challenge for the entire region, linked to agricultural sustainability, textile production and long-term economic development;

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12. Amendment 12ESNMotion for a resolution · Paragraph 37
    Current text

    37. Regrets that, despite some progress made with legislative reforms, significant barriers remain to the registration and operation of NGOs and civil society organisations in Uzbekistan, such as excessive registration requirements, administrative barriers and a lack of transparency and clarity in decision-making by the Uzbek Ministry of Justice; calls for further easing of restrictions and bureaucratic and legislative burdens to enable a wider range of NGO activities; demands that the Government of Uzbekistan allow independent human rights organisations, including international human rights groups, to register in the country and to carry out their activities without undue state interference…

    Amendment

    37. Recognises the right of Uzbekistan to ensure the transparency of foreign funding in the interest of national security and to prevent foreign malign influence; recognises the right of Uzbekistan to regulate the financial oversight of NGO activities, aimed at ensuring maximum transparency and accountability, and aligning Uzbekistan’s regulatory framework with international best practice for national security and financial integrity;

    Excerpt — full text in the official PDF.
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13. Amendment 13ESNMotion for a resolution · Paragraph 47
    Current text

    47. Notes Uzbekistan’s parallel efforts to address emigration challenges by expanding domestic employment opportunities and focusing on improving skills development; recognises the commitment to creating conditions that reduce reliance on outward labour migration, while supporting the reintegration of returning migrants, primarily from Russia;

    Amendment

    47. Notes Uzbekistan’s parallel efforts to address emigration challenges by expanding domestic employment opportunities and focusing on youth employment and improving skills development; recognises the commitment to creating conditions that reduce reliance on outward labour migration, while supporting the reintegration of returning migrants, primarily from Russia;

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14. Amendment 14ESNMotion for a resolution · Paragraph 47 a (new)
    Amendment

    47a. Invites the Government of Uzbekistan to take advantage of the skills and competences acquired by the returning migrants while abroad and create job opportunities for them to avoid further brain drain and boost its own labour market;

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15. Amendment 15ESNMotion for a resolution · Paragraph 49
    Current text

    49. Welcomes the signing, on 5 April 2024, of the EU-Uzbekistan memorandum of understanding launching a strategic partnership on critical raw materials; welcomes the EU-Central Asia declaration of intent on critical raw materials, endorsed at the first EU-Central Asia summit, which reflects the mutual interest in boosting cooperation on energy and the green transition; welcomes the introduction of an additional EUR 12 billion investment package during the EU-Central Asia Summit in Samarkand in 2025, with EUR 2.5 billion specifically earmarked for critical raw materials;

    Amendment

    49. Welcomes the signing, on 5 April 2024, of the EU-Uzbekistan memorandum of understanding launching a strategic partnership on critical raw materials; underlines that Uzbekistan ranks among the world’s leading producers of uranium, gold, copper and rare earth elements critical to the EU’s energy security and industrial sovereignty; calls for this partnership to be operationalised through binding supply agreements, joint venture frameworks and priority access for EU companies; welcomes the introduction of an additional EUR 12 billion investment package during the EU-Central Asia Summit in Samarkand in 2025, with EUR 2.5 billion specifically earmarked for critical raw materials;

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16. Amendment 16ESNMotion for a resolution · Paragraph 54
    Current text

    54. Supports the strengthening of people-to-people contacts, student, academic, scientific, cultural and other professional exchanges, and mobility, notably in the fields of education, business and tourism; notes that the EPCA includes the possibility of negotiating a readmission agreement and an agreement on visa facilitation; invites both sides to take the steps necessary to meet the conditions for the launch of the negotiations;

    Amendment

    54. Welcomes the strengthening of people-to-people contacts, student, academic, scientific, cultural and other professional exchanges, notably in the fields of education, business and tourism; notes that the EPCA includes the possibility of negotiating a readmission agreement; rejects any visa facilitation arrangement that could lead to increased illegal migration or place additional burden on the EU’s asylum system;

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17. Amendment 17PPEMotion for a resolution · Paragraph 32
    Current text

    32. Expresses deep concern that the use of torture by the authorities in Uzbekistan is widespread; urges the Uzbek authorities, therefore, to enforce legal safeguards against torture, establish an independent mechanism to investigate complaints, and take effective measures to ensure that perpetrators are held accountable;

    Amendment

    32. Recalls the UN Human Rights Committee’s call on Uzbekistan to take robust measures to eradicate torture and ill treatment, and to ensure that all persons deprived of liberty have access to an independent and effective complaints mechanism;

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