EU, Kazakhstan To Open Visa Facilitation Talks Soon

The 22nd meeting of the Kazakhstan-EU Cooperation Council has taken place in Brussels, led by Kazakh Foreign Minister Yermek Kosherbayev and EU High Representative Kaja Kallas.

The gathering carried added weight as it came on the eve of the 10th anniversary of the Enhanced Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (EPCA).

The sides reviewed a decade of growing partnership and outlined priorities for the years ahead. Officials reaffirmed that the EU remains Kazakhstan’s biggest trade and investment partner, with bilateral trade reaching nearly $50 billion in 2024 and total European investment exceeding $200 billion. More than 4,000 EU-linked companies now operate in Kazakhstan. Astana stressed its readiness to diversify trade and expand access for Kazakh agricultural products to the EU market.

A major focus was the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (Middle Corridor). With global supply chains rapidly shifting, both sides underscored its strategic role as a reliable Europe-Asia link. Kazakhstan confirmed its commitment to deepening cooperation with the EU and regional partners to further develop the route.

The meeting also highlighted joint efforts in green and digital transformation, seen as crucial for Kazakhstan’s modernization and Europe’s industrial resilience. Participants praised the active interparliamentary dialogue, following the successful 22nd session of the Kazakhstan-EU Parliamentary Cooperation Committee in November.

Humanitarian ties were given special attention. The parties welcomed the launch of negotiations on visa facilitation and readmission agreements for Kazakh citizens, which began in Brussels on December 2, 2025. The move is expected to boost mobility for students, researchers, and professionals.

The discussion also touched on regional cooperation, noting the first Central Asia-EU Summit held in Samarkand in April 2025, where the partnership format was elevated to a strategic level.

Both delegations emphasized that the EPCA - covering 29 areas of cooperation - has proven its strength and remains a solid foundation for future engagement. Kosherbayev and Kallas reaffirmed their commitment to expanding political dialogue, investment cooperation, regional connectivity, and humanitarian exchanges.

Earlier, Kosherbayev also met with EU Commissioner for International Partnerships Jozef Síkela.