The Enhanced Partnership and Cooperation Agreement between Uzbekistan and the European Union is expected to be signed in Brussels on October 24, the President of the European Council António Costa said in his congratulatory message to the President Mirziyoyev on the occasion of Independence Day.

“I look forward to our meeting in Brussels on October 24, 2025, where we will have the opportunity to continue our discussions on the occasion of the signing of the Enhanced Partnership and Cooperation Agreement between the European Union and Uzbekistan,” the European Council’s message said.

The Partnership and Cooperation Agreement between Uzbekistan and the EU which was signed in 1996 and took effect in 1999, covers political dialogue, cooperation in democracy and human rights, promotion of cultural ties, financial and technical cooperation, investment, trade in goods and services, as well as rules on intellectual property protection. The agreement is limited in scope, with many provisions requiring clarification through further specific deals.

In July 2017, Uzbekistan proposed to the EU to enter into a new cooperation agreement. Negotiations began in February 2019, lasted through 10 rounds, and concluded in June 2022. The agreement was initialed in July 2022.

The new agreement will cover trade and related matters, including customs administration, technical regulation, sanitary and phytosanitary measures, competition and the activities of state-owned enterprises, public procurement, and dispute settlement.

Furthermore, as it incorporates the core rules of the World Trade Organization, the scope of relations in investment partnership, trade in goods and services, and intellectual property will be significantly expanded.

The EPCA will also include new areas such as foreign policy, security, conflict prevention and risk management, personal data protection, asylum and border management, combating illegal migration, organized crime and corruption, as well as counterterrorism.