[{"bbox": [96, 153, 1134, 420], "category": "Text", "text": "The EU's geopolitical interest is to further engage with Turkmenistan in fields of mutual interest (green transition, connectivity, trade and investment). EU efforts aimed at Trans-Caspian connectivity and identifying new sources of critical raw minerals make this country an important element of the EU's involvement in Central Asia and the implementation of the 2019 Central Asia strategy¹ to support resilience and prosperity in the region; access via the Caspian Sea (especially the port of Turkmenbashi) and road place Turkmenistan at a key juncture in the Trans-Caspian Corridor. Security considerations also play a role: engagement with Turkmenistan will facilitate compliance with the sanctions' regime and counterbalance Russia's activities in the region. Additionally, Turkmenistan shares borders with Afghanistan and Iran and has insights into the regimes of these countries and the extremist groups that may operate from their territories; stability in Turkmenistan can contributes to mitigate the spillover effects of these extremist regimes."}, {"bbox": [96, 445, 1134, 578], "category": "Text", "text": "The EU supports Turkmenistan's efforts of transition towards a more sustainable, greener economy and Turkmenistan's adherence to the Paris Agreement and to the Global Methane Pledge. Additionally, the EU seeks to support the improvement of the business climate, economic diversification and trade. The transversal priority of the EU cooperation with Turkmenistan is to enhance the respect of human rights, good governance and the rule of law, long-term drivers for sustainable, inclusive and democratic development, to leave no one behind."}, {"bbox": [96, 603, 1134, 684], "category": "Text", "text": "The Cooperation Facility for Turkmenistan allows for flexible, fast assistance and implementation of technical assistance, studies and peer-to-peer exchanges of experiences where needed. The Facility also enhances the visibility of the relationship between the EU and Turkmenistan, while promoting synergies with other EU policies."}, {"bbox": [96, 710, 1134, 950], "category": "Text", "text": "It complements ongoing and future regional programmes, among which the most prominent and relevant ones for Turkmenistan are the Global Gateway flagship regional programmes with Central Asia, in particular the Trans-Caspian Transport Corridor (TCTC) development and the Team Europe Initiative on Water, Energy and Climate Change. Turkmenistan can also benefit from the programme “Digital Connectivity in Central Asia” (Regional AAP 2023) on soft connectivity, adopted under the Team Europe Initiative on Digital Connectivity, and benefits from all the components of the EU-Central Asia Prosperity programme to strengthen EU-Central Asia trade and economic links along the TCTC, including with regard to Critical Raw Materials. The Global Gateway aims to support Turkmenistan in building resilient infrastructure, fostering digital and energy connectivity, and promoting sustainable and inclusive growth."}, {"bbox": [85, 990, 341, 1020], "category": "Section-header", "text": "## 2.2 Problem Analysis"}, {"bbox": [96, 1036, 1134, 1142], "category": "Text", "text": "Turkmenistan remains a very closed country. Internet access in Turkmenistan is slow, expensive and limited compared to global standards, as confirmed by international surveys. For example, in the 2022 Internet Accessibility Index, Turkmenistan was ranked 156 out of 164 countries across the world in terms of the quality, availability and cost of internet access."}, {"bbox": [96, 1168, 1134, 1329], "category": "Text", "text": "Turkmenistan has one of the world's largest natural gas resources and its economy is almost entirely dependent on the gas exports. The main export market remains China. However, recently, Turkmenistan has started to face a number of challenges, including a global fall in commodity prices and the competing resource agendas of Russia, Iran, China, Azerbaijan and Turkey. These challenges have begun to affect the country's foreign relations strategy (e.g. a more ambitious government's policy with regards to the climate change) and planned long-distance pipeline projects with new connections to external markets."}, {"bbox": [96, 1354, 1134, 1435], "category": "Text", "text": "More recently, the country seems to be very keen on developing economic/trade relations with the EU. Having received a WTO observer status in July 2020, Turkmenistan has expressed gratitude to the EU for support through the Cooperation Facility 2022-2023."}, {"bbox": [96, 1460, 1134, 1541], "category": "Text", "text": "The country's climate vulnerability and greenhouse gas emissions also make Turkmenistan a priority for EU climate policies and the external dimension of the European Green Deal², while the serious inequalities that prevail in the country mean that, despite its Upper Middle Income Country (UMIC) status, EU support will have an"}, {"bbox": [85, 1575, 548, 1602], "category": "Footnote", "text": "¹ New EU Strategy on Central Asia | EEAS (europa.eu)"}, {"bbox": [85, 1601, 485, 1628], "category": "Footnote", "text": "² European Green Deal - Consilium (europa.eu)"}, {"bbox": [1034, 1680, 1141, 1706], "category": "Page-footer", "text": "Page 5 of 21"}]