1. Notes that the analysis of the public financial situation in 2007 and the first part of 2008 clearly shows a change in the economic trend and the looming prospect of a slowdown in the economy and growth, coupled with a continued lower rate of inflation and increasing income disparities;

The macro-economic conditions prevailing in the Central Asian countries, and in particular the situation of external finances and debt sustainability, have improved in the recent years as a result of strong economic growth and prudent macroeconomic policies, and they should therefore be allowed access to financing from the EIB; there should nevertheless be pre-conditions for their eligibility for EIB loans : these countries must show clear progress in establishing the rule of law, freedom of speech and the media, and freedom of NGOs and in achieving the Millennium Development Goals as specified in the EU Partnership and Cooperation Agre ...[+++]ements; they should not be subject to EU sanctions for human rights violations and they should have made real progress in terms of the human rights situation as required by the European Parliament's resolution of 20 February 2008 on an EU Strategy for Central Asia.

(4) The macro-economic conditions prevailing in the Central Asian countries, and in particular the situation of external finances and debt sustainability, have improved in the recent years as a result of strong economic growth and prudent macroeconomic policies, and they should therefore be allowed access to financing from the EIB, under the condition that they are not subject to EU sanctions for human rights violations, which would exclude access to EIB financing.

- the sustainability of the government financial position; this will be apparent from having achieved a government budgetary position without a deficit that is excessive as determined in accordance with Article 126(6),

The criterion on the government budgetary position referred to in the second indent of Article 140(1) of the said Treaty shall mean that at the time of the examination the Member State is not the subject of a Council decision under Article 126(6) of the said Treaty that an excessive deficit exists.

At the same time, public finances remain under pressure, with an average general deficit of 2.8% in 2003, widening further since the close to balance situation in 2000.