The Main Focus on the Implementation of an Enhanced Partnership and Cooperation Agreement between Kazakhstan and the European Union
On March 1 of this year, the Agreement on Enhanced Partnership and Cooperation between Kazakhstan and the EU entered into force. This agreement covers 29 areas of bilateral relations and creates new opportunities for the parties.
The next stage is - implementing the agreements outlined in the document. Of course, meeting and detailed discussion of issues by diplomats and specialists in various fields will speed up this issue. However, the epidemic that has swept the world does not allow face-to-face negotiations, which are an important part of diplomacy. At the same time, the diplomats are not looking around, and since the beginning of the year, they have been discussing ways to implement the terms of the agreement through a series of videoconferences.
On September 25, a video conference of the Kazakhstan-European Union Cooperation Committee was held at the level of deputy ministers. The co - chairs of the committee are Deputy Minister Margulan Baimukhan from the Kazakh side, acting Managing Director for Russia, Eastern Partnership, Central Asia, Regional cooperation and OSCE, European External Action Service, Luc Devigne from the European side.
The videoconference was held in a warm and friendly manner, despite the fact that it was not held in person. The parties noted the deepening of the level of cooperation, discussed wide range of issues, including the economic development and political reforms, the rule of law, human rights, energy, transport, environmental protection, education and science, visa liberalization, regional cooperation, etc.within the framework of the EPCA, and outlined plans for the future meetings.
At the same time, the European side commended the Government of Kazakhstan for humanitarian assistance to a number of neighboring and European countries in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. The EU welcomed the reforms taking place in the country and congratulated on the decision to abolish the death penalty.
For more information about the video conference, click on the following link below.