Astana, Mar 28 (EFE) – European Commission Vice President Kaja Kallas met Friday with Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev at his residence in Almaty, Kazakhstan’s largest city, to discuss deepening cooperation between the European Union and the Central Asian nation.
“Today, Central Asia is of great importance—not only in terms of resources and its geographic relevance to regional stability, but also for its investment potential,” Kallas said, according to a statement from the Kazakh presidency.
The leaders reviewed several priority areas of bilateral collaboration, including trade, transportation, digitalization, global security, and water resource management.
Visa Facilitation Agreement for Kazakh Citizens
One of the central topics of Kallas’s visit was the finalization of an agreement to simplify the issuance of Schengen visas for Kazakh citizens. President Tokayev welcomed the initiative, stating, “This step opens up broad opportunities to strengthen people-to-people contacts and trade ties with European countries.”
Kallas had earlier told Kazakh state media that all 27 EU member states supported launching negotiations on both a visa facilitation agreement and a readmission agreement, under the guidance of the European Commission.
Caspian Corridor and Global Gateway Investments
Another highlight of the visit was the discussion of the Caspian transport corridor, a key logistical route that bypasses Russian territory. Kallas underlined its strategic importance, particularly since the outbreak of the war in Ukraine.
“After the start of the war in Ukraine, we had to find alternative, secure, and efficient trade routes between Europe and Asia that did not pass through Russia. The Caspian corridor—into which the EU has invested €90 million—is crucial not only for these goals, but also for its impact on regional development,” she said.
She also highlighted progress made under the EU’s Global Gateway initiative, announcing that in 2024, more than 300 villages and 2,000 schools across Kazakhstan will gain internet access through the program.
A Strategic Partnership
Kazakhstan holds a unique position in the EU’s regional strategy. It was the first Central Asian country to sign an Enhanced Partnership and Cooperation Agreement with the European Union. This long-standing agreement underscores the depth and breadth of the bilateral relationship.
Kallas’s visit further solidifies the EU’s strategic interest in strengthening ties with Kazakhstan across economic, political, and digital domains, especially amid shifting global trade dynamics and the need for diversified supply chains. EFE