The European Union (EU), in partnership with the Migration Agency under the Cabinet of Ministers of Uzbekistan and the International Centre for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD), has launched the first Migrant Resource Centre (MRC) in Uzbekistan. This initiative is part of the EU-funded “PROTECT” project, which aims to improve migration management and enhance migrant protection in selected Silk Routes and Central Asian countries. The MRC is designed to expand access to information and services for potential migrants, promote safe and legal migration, and raise awareness about the risks of irregular migration and human trafficking. This centre is the third MRC established in the Central Asia region and supports national governments in strengthening migration governance frameworks, institutional capacities, and migrant services. Cooperation with Uzbekistan was formalized through a Memorandum of Understanding signed in March 2025 between ICMPD and the Migration Agency.
The formal opening of the Tashkent centre was attended by more than 60 representatives from the Government of Uzbekistan, EU member states, embassies, UN agencies, the EU Delegation in Uzbekistan, ICMPD leadership and technical staff, international organizations, civil society, and local development partners. H.E. Toivo Klaar, EU Ambassador to Uzbekistan, highlighted the centre’s importance in providing people with reliable information to make informed migration decisions. He emphasized that such initiatives align with the EU’s Global Gateway strategy, which invests in sustainable, people-centred infrastructure across Central Asia to create local opportunities and reduce pressures driving irregular migration.
Sedef Dearing, Deputy Director General and Head of Migration Dialogues and Cooperation at ICMPD, noted that the Tashkent MRC is part of a global network of 14 centres and represents a significant step in EU-Uzbekistan cooperation. She emphasized that the centre will offer practical and timely support for individuals considering migration or return, ensuring that their choices are informed, safe, and rights-based. The initiative demonstrates the EU and ICMPD’s commitment to strengthening migration governance and enhancing services for Uzbek citizens.
