The 6th Forum of Civil Society of the European Union took place in the capital of Kyrgyzstan, Bishkek, gathering representatives from various sectors, including civil society, international organizations, and government institutions from Central Asian countries.
Among the participants of the forum were the European Commission's Special Representative for Central Asia, Eduards Stiprais, the Deputy Minister of Justice of Kyrgyzstan, Sayra Izakova, the UN Resident Coordinator in the country, Antje Grave, the Director of the UNOPS office, Simonetto Siligatto, and representatives from organizations such as Global Gateway, the EU Fund, EU Civil Society Facility CA, UNOPS, and the Danish Institute for Human Rights.
The opening speeches of the forum focused on key topics such as strengthening partnerships between the EU and Central Asia, increasing funding for youth initiatives, and developing joint projects in the region.
During the forum, participants discussed the current state of joint projects implemented by the EU and Central Asia and proposed measures to create conditions for youth development and strengthen the role of civil society in regional processes.
The main goal of this forum was to identify key challenges and opportunities, as well as to formulate strategic priorities across various thematic areas, which will allow for the development of preliminary recommendations and practical actions for the regional agenda.
The 6th EU Civil Society Forum in Central Asia has become an important annual platform for structured dialogue and partnership between civil society, the EU, and developing partners. It builds on the outcomes of previous meetings and the work of regional thematic groups covering important areas such as digital transformation, climate change, youth participation, business social responsibility, and women's empowerment.
The forum emphasizes the need to move from theoretical discussions to concrete regional action plans and to strengthen the capacity of civil society to achieve sustainable change in Central Asia.
