From February 25-27, the European Parliament Delegation for Relations with Central Asia, headed by Ms. Giuseppina Princi, visited Turkmenistan to conduct the 8th Interparliamentary Dialogue between Turkmenistan and the European Union.
The 8th Interparliamentary Dialogue “Turkmenistan-European Union”, chaired by Ms. Giuseppina Princi, Head of the group for cooperation with Central Asian countries, and Mr. Yusupguly Eshayev, Head of the Committee for the Protection of Human Rights and Freedoms from the Turkmen side, took place on 25 February and focused on strengthening Turkmenistan-EU relations,
The Caspian Post reports the
official website of the European Union. Discussions covered Turkmenistan’s UNGA resolutions: “2025 - International Year of Peace and Trust” and “Central Asia - Zone of Peace, Trust, and Cooperation”, as well as human rights, gender equality reforms and bilateral legislative collaboration. The importance of Turkmenistan’s policy of neutrality in regional security, energy, and transport was emphasised. Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to environmental protection, legal framework development, and continued parliamentary engagement.
Following the interparliamentary meeting, a meeting took place with the Turkmen delegation at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan. During the talks, the parties discussed EU-Turkmenistan cooperation, focusing on reforms in human rights, gender equality, and support for civil society. They also highlighted Turkmenistan’s policy of neutrality and its role in regional stability, as well as the development of energy and transport sectors.
On the same day, the EU Parliament Members met with representatives of Turkmen Civil Society Organisations and discussed current challenges and opportunities for CSOs in Turkmenistan with focus on promoting human rights, gender equality, and social development, as well as fostering a more inclusive dialogue between government institutions and civil society.
On 26 February, the delegation continued their program in Turkmenbashy. The day began with a meeting at the Turkmenbashy City Administration, where discussions focused on local governance and regional cooperation. Following this, the delegation toured the Turkmenbashy International Seaport, exploring the port’s operations and development plans. After the tour, the delegation engaged with students from the Maritime Secondary Vocational School and the Institute of Engineering and Transport Communications, where European parliamentarians brief students on their work and cooperation with Turkmenistan
On 27 February, the delegation held productive discussions with numerous Turkmen government officials, senior officials from the Ministries of Justice, Education, Environment Protection, and Energy. These meetings focused on legal reforms, educational partnerships, environmental sustainability initiatives, and potential energy cooperation.
The delegation's visit concluded with a reception hosted by the European Parliament, bringing together key stakeholders for further enhance the EU-Turkmenistan cooperation.
The visit underscores the mutual commitment of the European Parliament and Turkmenistan to strengthening dialogue on multiple fronts, including human rights, bilateral cooperation, and regional stability in an increasingly complex geopolitical environment.
