A Chat in the Yurt, discussing Central Asia and Europe – Episode XVIII – EU development cooperation

Step into our Yurt and join us for a monthly conversation on Europe-Central Asia developments. In this series of podcasts, we welcome guests from both regions to discuss exciting new research and the latest developments in Europe and Central Asia. Together, we discuss society trends, political developments, economic turns, and cultural highlights while assessing the past and looking ahead to what may unfold.

In this episode, host Rashid Gabdulhakov interviews Kamila Smagulova who is a PhD candidate at Leiden University (and normally co-host of this podcast) and Jos Boonstra, EUCAM coordinator at CESS, to discuss the new EUCAM policy brief European Development Cooperation with Central Asia: From abstract to concrete. In the chat, the ins and outs of EU development cooperation with Central Asia are discussed from ‘budget support’ to ‘blending and guarantees’. A case is made for increased support to civil society projects that focus on digitalisation and energy transition. Kamila and Jos present several of the eight recommendations from the paper that are aimed at EU development cooperation with Central Asia that focuses on human interaction, with long-term benefits for both Central Asia and Europe.

Join EUCAM in the Yurt via SoundCloud, Spotify, and Apple podcasts. Be part of the discussion by posing questions and sharing your thoughts on our social media: Facebook, Mastodon, and LinkedIn. EUCAM is a programme of the Centre for European Security Studies (CESS), the Netherlands.