BAKU, Azerbaijan, February 21. Over the past
year, the European Union has been compelled to develop its own
policies in response to the growing global instability. Economic
and geopolitical trends are placing increasing strain on Europe’s
internal markets and external relations, while the priorities of
the EU and the U.S. in areas such as trade, investment, and foreign
policy are diverging, creating new challenges for transatlantic
relations.


In this evolving context, European leaders are increasingly
emphasizing the importance of strategic autonomy and enhancing the
EU’s independence. In her address to the European Parliament in
January 2026, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen
highlighted the necessity for Europe to establish its own levers of
influence, including a robust economy, a unified single market, and
genuine defense capabilities. This stance underscores Brussels’
commitment to strengthening decision-making autonomy and
diversifying partnerships to mitigate external risks.


Due to global political and economic instability, the Eurozone
economy is projected to slow down in 2025-2027 compared to global
growth rates. According to the IMF’s January update of the World
Economic Outlook 2026, Eurozone GDP growth amounted to 1.4% in
2025, is expected to be 1.3% in 2026, and recover to 1.4% in 2027.
These growth rates differ from the global trend, with world GDP
projected at 3.3% in both 2025 and 2026.


Amid the economic slowdown in the Eurozone, the European Union
is increasingly prioritizing its trade and investment relations
with China. A press release issued after the 25th EU-China Summit,
held in Beijing on July 24, 2025, underscored Brussels' commitment
to deepening cooperation with China, focusing on fostering a
"balanced and mutually beneficial economic relationship grounded in
fairness and reciprocity," and achieving tangible progress in areas
of shared interest.


As the EU works to diversify traditional maritime trade routes,
the development of the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route
(Middle Corridor), linking China, Central Asia, the Caspian Sea,
the South Caucasus, and Europe, is gaining significance. While
political dialogue with Kazakhstan continues to progress, EU
initiatives concerning Turkmenistan are beginning to take on more
concrete form. Turkmenistan’s strategic location, nestled between
Uzbekistan, Iran, and the Caspian Sea, positions it as a key player
in integrating Eurasian supply chains and enhancing connectivity
between Central Asia and European markets.







At the same time, Turkmenistan is actively developing its
transport infrastructure, including the modernization of railways
and highways, as well as expanding the capacities of the
Turkmenbashi seaport on the Caspian. The port serves as a key
logistics hub, handling container and general cargo traffic towards
Azerbaijan and onward through the South Caucasus to Europe.
Notably, in February, President Serdar Berdimuhamedov established
the Ministry of Automobile Roads on the basis of the former State
Agency for Road Construction Management. The ministry was created
to modernize the country’s road infrastructure and enhance the
efficiency of the transport system.


Since the beginning of 2026, a series of meetings has been held
involving high-ranking officials of both the EU and its individual
member states. In February alone, more than ten joint events with
Turkmenistan took place. Notable examples include the meeting of
representatives of five Central Asian countries with the German
government under the Z5+1 initiative in Berlin on February 11, a
joint briefing on Turkmenistan-EU cooperation held on February 17
in Ashgabat, and increasingly frequent meetings of Turkmenistan’s
Ambassador to Brussels, Sapar Palvanov, with European officials,
during which he emphasized that “developing ties with the EU
remains a priority of the country’s foreign policy in 2026.”
Additionally, a Turkmenistan-European Union business forum is
scheduled to take place in Ashgabat on March 26, 2026.


Thus, against the backdrop of the EU’s efforts to diversify
external economic ties and strengthen strategic autonomy,
Turkmenistan is gradually gaining a more prominent role in
Brussels’ regional partnership configuration.


The development of the Trans-Caspian route, the modernization of
Turkmenistan’s transport infrastructure, and the strengthening of
political dialogue are collectively creating a favorable
environment for expanding practical cooperation between Ashgabat
and the EU. This includes initiatives in trade and investment,
particularly those linked to China. These efforts reflect the
broader transformation of Europe’s external economic priorities in
response to the shifting geopolitical and economic landscape.