Brussels, Jun 23 (EFE).- Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and the presidents of the European Commission and the European Council, Ursula von der Leyen and António Costa, respectively, agreed on Tuesday to strengthen the partnership between the two sides, with concrete measures including the signing of an Airbus contract worth more than 7 billion euros.
At a summit held in Brussels, the leaders described the visit as a “strong signal of the growing strategic partnership between the European Union and Kazakhstan,” established in 2015, according to a statement from the European Commission.
The leaders highlighted the EU’s role as Kazakhstan’s “leading trade and investment partner” and pledged to promote exchanges in strategic sectors under the EU’s Global Gateway strategy for Central Asia, particularly in raw materials, energy, transport and emerging technologies.
Aviation, nuclear energy, and batteries
During the meeting, the parties signed the Horizontal Aviation Agreement, which will expand air connectivity between the EU and Kazakhstan.
They also confirmed an agreement between Air Astana and Airbus for the delivery of 50 A320neo and A321neo aircraft worth 7.145 billion euros, “a tangible example of the deepening EU-Kazakhstan cooperation in aviation, innovation, connectivity, and private sector investment,” according to the statement.
In the energy and resources sector, both sides committed to advancing the Roadmap of the EU-Kazakhstan Strategic Partnership on Sustainable Raw Materials, Battery Value Chains and Renewable Hydrogen, at a time when the EU is seeking to diversify its suppliers of these products and their components.
The EU also recognizes Kazakhstan as a key supplier of oil—its third-largest source—and uranium, and expressed its willingness “for stronger cooperation in renewable and civil nuclear energy.”
EU endorses Kazakh political reforms
On the political front, European institutions “recognized” Astana’s domestic modernization agenda, highlighting the adoption of a new constitution approved in a referendum in March with 87% of the vote and scheduled to enter into force on July 1.
The leaders also reaffirmed their “shared commitment to peace, security and stability,” as well as to “sovereignty, territorial integrity and the peaceful settlement of disputes” in accordance with the United Nations Charter.
They further stressed the importance of “effective multilateralism” centered on the United Nations and supported “strengthening the global disarmament and non-proliferation regime,” according to the European Commission.
The commission’s statement did not mention discussions on the war in Ukraine or EU sanctions against Moscow, which Kazakhstan has not joined. However, Astana does cooperate with the EU to ensure its territory is not used to circumvent the restrictive measures. EFE