This article is devoted to the relations between the European Union and the Central Asian republics. It discusses a number of internal and external factors that may affect the development of bilateral and multilateral relations. These factors force the European Union to pursue a balanced policy in the region. The success of the Union's policy in Central Asia depends on the stable maintenance of this balance. In this sense, the author likens the European Union to a tightrope walker performing a grand spectacle.

The relations between the EU and Central Asia have a peculiar history and development trends. The mutual relations of the Central Asian countries with the European Union differ from relations with other international organizations. Author pays a special attention to the current state and proposes to upgrade these relations through enhancement of externally and internally balanced policy.

The European Union, Member-states, Central Asia

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