Kazakhstan-EU Strategic Partnership, Discussed with the New Members of the European Parliament

Brussels, October 2, 2024 – the European Parliament hosted an event on “Kazakhstan-EU Strategic Partnership: Opening New Niches and Directions”, organized by the Embassy of Kazakhstan in Belgium and the European Parliament.

At the beginning of the event were presented videos (Kazakhstan Born Bold, Travel to Kazakhstan) on the achievements and opportunities of Kazakhstan.

The event was opened by co-organizer, former chairman of the European Parliament Delegation for Cooperation with Central Asia and Mongolia (DCAS), MEP Tomáš Zdechovský (Czech Republic).

From the Kazakh side took part and made a speech Advisor to the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan Bolat Akchulakov, Permanent Representative of the Republic of Kazakhstan to the EU Margulan Baimukhan, members of the Committee on International Affairs, Defense and Security of the Majilis of the Parliament of the Republic of Kazakhstan Samat Nurtaza and Olzhas Kuspekov, as well as Director General of RSE “National Center for Technological Forecasting” RK Al-Farabi Ydyryshev.

From the EU spoke European Commissioner for Agriculture
Janusz Wojciechowski, MEP Katarína Roth Neveďalová, Deputy Managing Director for Europe and Central Asia of the European External Action Service (EEAS) Luc Devigne, Deputy Director of the European Commission's Directorate General for International Partnership (DG INTPA) Sarah Rinaldi, other MEPs, as well as representatives of public, scientific and business circles in Belgium, including the Secretary General of the European and Central Asian Transport and Trade Association (ECATA) Leila Batyrbekova.

In his speech Bolat Akchulakov emphasized the importance of strengthening and expanding the horizons of cooperation with the EU in the oil and gas, energy and transport sectors, as well as trade, economic and investment tracks. He noted the importance of cooperation with the EU in the framework of the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route, informed about Kazakhstan's provision of energy resources to European countries, joining the Partnership Forum on Mineral Resources Security, the Global Methane Commitment, as well as the interest of Kazakhstan in expanding cooperation in the functioning of the Carbon Frontier Management Mechanism of the European Union.

Permanent Representative of Kazakhstan to the EU Margulan Baimukhan noted that against the background of the elections to the European Parliament and appointments to the European Commission this year, Kazakhstan and the EU are entering a new stage of partnership, which will be aimed at achieving even greater heights and the realization of new goals. Informed that the EU is one of the major trade and investment partners of Kazakhstan with a trade turnover of more than 41.4 billion U.S. dollars in 2023. Emphasized the high level of cooperation with the EU, as evidenced by the constant exchange of visits of EU and RK delegations at a high level, including the latest visit this year by Vice-President of the European Commission Josep Borrell and other senior EU officials last year.

Margulan Baimukhan stated the importance of continuing to develop cooperation with the EU on such key issues as the rule of law, human rights, trade, economic and investment growth, critical raw metals, transportation, visa facilitation with EU countries, climate change (IFAS, etc.).

Special attention was paid to the development of cooperation with CA countries, EU programs in the region, political and economic reforms of the RK, international initiatives of our state (holding of the UN Climate Summit in the RK in 2026, creation of the UN regional hub on SDGs for CA and Afghanistan, etc.).

Members of the Parliament of the RK Samat Nurtaza and Olzhas Kuspekov informed the audience about political, legislative and constitutional reforms initiated by the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, focusing on the importance of maintaining the traditional annual meetings within the framework of the Committee on Parliamentary Cooperation RK-EU, on the work within the framework of inter-parliamentary associations and international organizations, on inter-parliamentary cooperation with the countries of Central Asia, gender equality issues, cooperation with NGOs and others.

In turn, the European Commissioner Janusz Wojciechowski, deputies of the European Parliament of Kazakhstan noted that Kazakhstan is the main partner for the EU (high level of trade turnover and investment), emphasized the important role of Central Asia in ensuring security in the region in a difficult geopolitical situation in the world. Reaffirmed the commitment to further strengthen and expand EU cooperation with Kazakhstan on a wide range of issues on the international agenda (rule of law, human rights, transport, energy, oil sector, technology and innovation, potential in the field of cyber security, technical assistance, food security, climate change, support for intercultural dialogue, etc.).

Deputy Managing Director for Europe and Central Asia, European External Action Service Luc Devigne emphasized that the EU appreciates the key role that Kazakhstan plays in the development of interconnection between Europe and Asia, which is one of the important priorities.

As noted by representatives of socio-political, scientific and business circles in Brussels, this is one of the first major events in the walls of the European Parliament, which was attended by members of the new convocation of the EP.

EU parliamentarians and Majilismen of the RK emphasized the need to develop the potential of cooperation of key EU institutions with the RK and the region of Central Asia for the benefit of the countries and their citizens.