German Development Cooperation in Europe, Caucasian and Central Asian countries faces a number of challenges due to the heterogenous nature of the region. The integration of South-Eastern European countries into the European Union (EU) and the adaptation of framework conditions in the neighbouring countries of the EU are important topics of Development Cooperation. Other key items include the role of civil society in crisis prevention in Caucasian countries, and economic and political stabilisation in Afghanistan, Pakistan and the Central Asian countries. GIZ's work in the region is based on the policy of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ). In Europe, Caucasian and Central Asian countries, this rests on the following cornerstones:

• United Nations Millennium Development Goals adopted in 2000
• Transform Programme of reform countries in Central and Eastern Europe
• action areas of development policy to support European Neighbourhood Policy
• Stability Pact for South-Eastern Europe
• Central Asia Concept of BMZ
• BMZ Caucasus Initiative
• Afghanistan concept of the German Government.

In accordance with these, GIZ holds multi-country consultations to promote regional cooperation and the economic and political stabilisation of the region. Focus is placed on the thematic areas:

• EU Neighbourhood Policy
• Migration
• Security.

Examples of our multi-country work are: