Visit of diplomats of Central Asia to EU structures in Brussels

16. 02. 2023

Visit of diplomats of Central Asia to EU structures in Brussels

The process to generate projects financed by the EU, like the project LEICA, is complex and it requires the participation of many EU structures based in Brussels that take into account, inter alia, the political, social and economic situation of the countries that would benefit from the corresponding financial action, and the existance of cooperation strategies or previous agreements with those countries. 
Five diplomats, from the Ministries of Foreign Affairs of the five Central Asia countries, have participated in a study visit organized by LEICA on 15-16 February 2023 to familiarize with the various departments at the EU that have a role in the design, financing and management of projects like LEICA. 
They were welcomed by the EU Special Representative for Central Asia and the Head of the Terrorism Division, at the European External Action Service. They exchanged views on enhancing cooperation in the area of preventing terrorism, violent extremism and discussed about the current situation and threats stemming from Taliban-led Afghanistan. 
The participants were introduced and briefed by staff of the counter-terrorism department of the  EU Council (the “home of the EU member States“). Its role is to find gaps in the EU fight against terrorism and violent extremism and coordinate the discussions among EU Member states to fill in those weaknesses. They also met with the CT Unit of the Directorate General -DG Home, which elaborates counter-terrorism initiatives to address the main pilars (anticipate, prevent, protect and respond) of the EU CT Agenda, adopted in 2020. 
The visitors were welcomed at the International Partnerships DG, which plays a key role in assigning resources to implement mandates derived from action plans and strategic documents, like the 2019 EU Strategy for Central Asia. Finally, they were briefed by staff that is directly involved in the financing and management of the project LEICA at the EU Commission “Foreign Policy Instrument” (FPI-1) where the perspectives of a LEICA follow-up project were also discussed. 
The European Union funded project LEICA is managed by the EU Commission, through a consortium made up by French CIVIPOL and Slovak ISEMI, with the support of Interpol.
 

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