3.4 The European Union The European Union has invested substantial technical and financial support in the development of Uzbekistan’s agricultural sector.182 To identify, prevent and mitigate against abusive state practices that lead to illegal land confiscations, enhanced due diligence through monitoring and reporting is required to ensure that EU funding does not reinforce and legitimise these practices. a) Ensure that EU development programmes, trade and partnership agreements and financial support promote human rights and address the issue of ‘land grabbing’ by promoting stronger autonomy for farmers and farmworkers through improved land rights, inclusive decision-making and accountability for those affected by illegal land grabs. b) Ensure compliance with the core conventions of the GSP+ trading agreement between Uzbekistan and the EU, including in relation to land grabbing. c) Implement measures that ensure no European financial institutions are involved in investments that result in ‘land grabbing’. d) Promote transparency, accountability and governance of agribusiness investments in Uzbekistan. e) Ensure that EU financial and technical support for agriculture, renewable energy and mining projects integrate due consideration for risks to land lease holders and private property owners, including access to information, free, prior and informed consent to project-affected parties as well as an effective grievance mechanism and remedy procedures. 64 A False Sense of Legality