The European Parliament has one delegation to strengthen relations with elected representatives from Mongolia and Central Asia (Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan).
The "Delegation to the EU-Kazakhstan, EU-Kyrgyzstan, EU-Uzbekistan and EU-Tajikistan Parliamentary Cooperation Committees and for relations with Turkmenistan and Mongolia" (abbreviated as DCAS) focuses on the heart of Asia, which plays a strategic role in the stability and development of the entire continent.
At the crossroads of different routes - political, cultural and commercial - these republics share a Soviet legacy, while also maintaining their own rich, local traditions. Europe's influence is clear, but the countries' prominent neighbours - Russia, China and India - also hold great sway in the region.
Parliamentary Cooperation Committees and inter-parliamentary meetingsAs the full name of the delegation indicates, different forums bring together MEPS and their Central Asian and Mongolian counterparts.
In the case of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, "Parliamentary Cooperation Committees" have been established to join the delegations of parliamentarians. These committees were established after the EU signed "Partnership and Cooperation Agreements" with the four countries.
Mongolia and Turkmenistan have not yet signed such agreements with the EU. As a result, members of the DCAS delegation meet Mongolian and Turkmen legislators in less formal "inter-parliamentary meetings".
Whatever the form of these forums, none of these meetings is ever unidirectional. The European side wishes to better understand the peculiar political and social dynamics of Central Asia and Mongolia, while delegations from the six countries also increasingly probe the challenges faced by the EU.
Delegation workIn addition to planning and participating in these inter-parliamentary meetings and Parliamentary Cooperation Committees, the DCAS delegation meets on its own in Brussels and Strasbourg.
These meetings sometimes address administrative matters, such as the election of the delegation's chair or vice-chairs, or preparation for trips to Central Asia and Mongolia and meetings with partner delegations.
The meetings also serve as a forum to discuss issues in the bilateral relationships and in the six countries. Outside experts often attend the meetings and exchange views with the delegation members. Recent meetings, for example, have included contributions from:
- Peter Burian, EU Special Representative for Central Asia,
- Central Asian ambassadors to the European Union
- senior staff from the European Commission and the European External Action Service (EEAS),
- rapporteurs from the Parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee (AFET).
CompositionThe DCAS Delegation counts 19 full members, supported by a strong cohort of substitute members. All members are drawn from the European Parliament's political groups, with the political makeup of the delegation mirroring that of Parliament as a whole.
The Chair of the Delegation is Mr Fulvio Martusciello (EPP, IT). He is supported by two Vice-Chairs: Mr Andris Ameriks (S&D, LV) and Ms Atidzhe Alieva-Veli (Renew Europe Group, BG).
The Chair and Vice-Chairs are elected by other the members of the delegation.