Step into our Yurt and join us for a monthly conversation on Europe-Central Asia developments. In these series of podcasts EUCAM welcomes guests from both regions to discuss exciting new research and the latest developments in Europe and Central Asia. Guests range from academics to policymakers and from journalists to civil society activists. What is happening in Europe that Central Asians should know about? What events are unfolding in Central Asia that Europeans should understand? Together, we discuss society trends, political developments, and economic turns while assessing the past and looking ahead to what may unfold.

In this episode, hosts Rashid Gabdulhakov and Kamila Smagulova meet with Niels Drost who is a
research fellow at the Russia and Eastern Europe Centre of Clingendael. He is also one of the coordinators of the REKA network that aims to bring Dutch research communities together withpolicymakers over developments in Eastern Europe and Central Asia. The other guest is Jos Boonstra, EUCAM coordinator and senior researcher at CESS. Clingendael and CESS each
published a paper on Europe-Central Asia relations. Clingendael’ s study Central Asia emerging from the shadows outlines Central Asia’s geopolitical landscape and EU-Central Asia relations while the EUCAM policy brief EU-Central Asia connectivity: Using all the pieces discusses the increased European and Central Asian focus on connectivity in building energy, transport and data connections.

A Chat in the Yurt - Episode XIX: Connectivity

Established in 2008 by FRIDE as a project seeking to monitor the implementation of the EU Strategy for Central Asia, EUCAM has grown into a knowledge hub on broader Europe-Central Asia relations. With CESS guidance and cooperation EUCAM will seek to continue to raise the profile of European-Central Asian relations in general, and more specifically to:

- Critically, though constructively, scrutinize European policies towards Central Asia;
- Enhance knowledge of European engagement with Central Asia through top-quality research;
- Raise awareness of the importance of Central Asia and Europe’s engagement, as well as discuss European policies among Central Asian communities;
- Expand the network of experts and institutions from Europe and Central Asia and provide a forum for debate.