As a normative actor, the EU is among the most active external supporters of democratization, human rights, and the rule of law in Central Asia. However, the EU’s ability to achieve its normative objectives in regions where it has limited political and economic leverage has repeatedly been questioned. This chapter reviews the EU policy framework for external democracy and human rights promotion, examines its recent democratization and human rights efforts in Central Asia, and analyzes their effects, considering the receptiveness of, and responses to, the EU’s engagement by Central Asian state and non-state actors. The study draws on extensive desk research, including analysis of EU documents, reports by watchdog organizations, media coverage and secondary literature as well as insights from Brussels-based EU officials, NGOs, and policy experts. The findings suggest that the EU remains cautious in using its available instruments for democracy promotion to the full extent as Brussels continues to balance between various foreign policy priorities. Meeting little enthusiasm on the part of Central Asian leaderships and facing the presence of powerful authoritarian competitors such as China and Russia in the region, the effects of the EU’s democratization efforts remain limited.
