On April 27 this year the members of the European Parliament Ana Gomes, Elisabeth Jeggle, Teresa Riera Madurell, Anneli Jäätteenmäki, Heidi Hautala, Nicole Kiil-Nielsen, representing Portugal, Germany, Spain, Finland and France, respectively, held meeting at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Uzbekistan.

During the talks the sides noted that the visit of the President of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov to Brussels on January 24 this year and his meetings with the EU leadership gave a new impetus to extend cooperation in various spheres based on equality and mutually beneficial partnership.

The secured agreements during the visit open new prospects of cooperation between Uzbekistan and the EU in energy and financial-technical spheres.

At the meeting the sides have underscored the dynamics of cooperation between the Oliy Majlis of Uzbekistan (the national parliament) and the European Parliament.

The sides exchanged views on implementation of the EU Strategy for Central Asia. The sides noted that it is impossible to implement the Strategy effectively without intensification of the investment constituents.

On the request of the MPs, they were briefed on the position of Uzbekistan on the water-energy issues considered to be vital for the Central Asian region. The Uzbek side adheres to a principle position that it is inadmissible to construct large hydro-power stations at trans-boundary rivers. These issues in the region should be discussed and resolved on the basis of generally recognized norms and principles of international law with agreement of all countries of the region.

The sides also discussed other issues of mutual interest.