Final Conference of SEnECA in Brussels
The SEnECA Final Conference “What Future for EU-Central Asia Relations?” was organised by the Trans European Policy Studies Association (TEPSA) and the Centre international de formation européenne (CIFE) in Brussels on 14 and 15 November 2019. 215 representatives* from research, civil society and politics as well as journalists working in the field of EU-Central Asia relations attended the final conference of the Horizon 2020 project “SEnECA — Strengthening and Energizing EU-Central Asia relations”. The conference focused on EU-Central Asia cooperation in the fields of education and research, communication, culture as a catalyst for social change and future scenarios of relations for 2030. The SEnECA project has developed recommendations for the possible implementation of a new EU strategy on Central Asia. Ambassador Peter Burian, EU Special Representative for Central Asia, emphasized that Central Asia should not be regarded as a transit region only, but as a place where “trains stop”, referring to how connectivity should play a key role in bringing prosperity to Central Asian societies. An intriguing discussion took place during the panel on culture as a catalyst for social change. The question was raised how cultural projects can serve as an engine for economic development and a tool to promote human rights and justice.
