The EU’s Rule of Law Initiative in Central Asia

The EU’s Rule of Law Initiative is one of three Initiatives first set out in the EU’s Central Asia Strategy in 2007 as a flagship engagement aimed at linking political priorities to practical assistance in the region. The Initiative is intended, on the part of the EU and Member States, ‘to support on-going modernisation of the legal sector, as part of a more comprehensive strategy to foster and consolidate stability, prosperity and respect for human rights in Central Asian countries.’ Rule of Law is now being viewed as a key policy goal amongst international development actors. Economic growth, political modernization and the ability to attract foreign investment hinges, in part, on strengthening rule of law in transitional states