Media release

Ministers to strengthen EU-Central Asia cooperation in higher and vocational education

Photo: EU2015.LV
25 June 2015

Taking place on 25-26 June in Riga, the first meeting of the EU and Central Asian Ministers for Education will bring together the Ministers for Education and high-level officials from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and the EU, and representatives from EU institutions. The participants aim to decide on common higher and vocational education priorities, and a road map for implementing those priorities during the upcoming two years.

Organised by the Latvian Presidency together with the European Commission and the European External Action Service, the meeting will highlight exchange of experience and best practice. The event will conclude with on-site visits to the Latvian higher education institutions and vocational education and training competence centres.

As reaffirmed on 22 June at the EU Foreign Affairs Council, education is one of the most essential fields of cooperation between the EU and Central Asia. Academic mobility and joint cooperation among education institutions are facilitated through Erasmus+ programme and other mechanisms for collaboration. Cooperation has also been enhanced through the Central Asian Education Platform funded by the EU.

The media are welcome to attend the ministerial doorstep interviews by the Latvian Minister for Education and Science, Ms Mārīte Seile; the State Secretary of the Latvian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mr Andrejs Pildegovičs; the EU Special Representative for Central Asia, Mr Peter Burian; and the Deputy Director-General of the DEVCO, Mr Marcus Cornaro. Tour-de-table photo and video opportunities will also be available at the opening of the meeting. The press conference will be held on 26 June at 13:10 with the Latvian Minister for Education and Science and the State Secretary of the Latvian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The media will be able to ask question to the Heads of the Central Asian delegations during the press conference.

The Latvian Presidency's audiovisual database includes a photo gallery containing print-quality digital pictures and a video gallery where all video files are available in high and standard definition resolutions. All pictures and video files can be downloaded and used free of charge provided that the source is duly credited. The source of the material should be indicated as EU2015.LV

Please note that only accredited media can attend the event. Information on media accreditation is available at the Presidency website.

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Ivars Lasis
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Ieva Nora Fīrere
Expert in communication