VP/HR — The EU's education initiative for Central Asia

21.4.2016

Question for written answer E-003210-16
to the Commission (Vice-President/High Representative)
Rule 130
Monica Macovei (ECR)

The 2007 European Union Strategy for Central Asia was reviewed for the fourth time in 2015. The EU’s engagement has not had a great impact.

According to research carried out by Parliament’s Directorate-General for External Policies of the Union in 2016, 50% of foreign investment in Kazakhstan comes from Europe and 40% of exports from Kazakhstan go to Europe. The EU’s three regional programmes — rule of law, water and environment, and education — should be reanalysed. The initiative run by France and Germany produced superficial reforms with regard to the rule of law, since democracy is perceived by the countries in this region as a threat to their survival. The water and environment initiative led by Italy and Romania had almost no impact, since political tensions make progress difficult. No Member State is willing to take the initiative for education.

Does the VP/HR have a plan regarding the education initiative?