Senior EU officials are set to visit Turkmenistan this week in order to enhance collaboration with Central Asia, a region abundant in energy resources that is crucial for Europe's goal of diversifying energy supplies and reducing reliance on Russia. EU External Relations Commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner, along with the French and Slovenian foreign ministers, will hold discussions with Central Asian leaders in Ashgabat on April 9-10, covering topics such as energy and democracy. Despite being rich in oil and gas, the region is known for its authoritarian governments and has faced criticism from the West for issues related to democracy and human rights. The EU views Central Asia as a potential new energy source as it seeks to lessen its dependence on Russia, which currently provides a quarter of the EU's energy requirements. The EU has stated that it is actively working with regional partners on joint priorities papers to outline future actions as part of its strategy, with talks expected to be conducted in private. Some activists and politicians have accused the West of prioritizing energy over democracy in their dealings with Central Asia, a claim that Western governments have refuted. Human Rights Watch, based in the U.S., has urged the EU to prioritize the promotion of human rights standards in Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, and Kyrgyzstan in their regional policy. Central Asia is home to some of the most repressive former Soviet Union states, and the EU should take this opportunity to push for improvements. Creating specific benchmarks will give the strategy a clear direction. Kazakhstan, the largest economy in the region with a stable investment environment, is the main target of Western interest. Turkmenistan has received significant investment but has never had an election deemed free and fair by Western monitors. The country, which is slowly opening up after years of isolation, has expressed interest in closer ties with the West and reform. However, some analysts doubt the new president's dedication to real change. Uzbekistan, previously criticized by the US for human rights violations, received praise this year for releasing activists from jail and showing a greater willingness to address human rights concerns. Human Rights Watch acknowledged these positive developments in the region. "However, these issues should not overshadow the larger problem of widespread human rights violations in each Central Asian country and throughout the region."