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EU-Kazakhstan Cooperation Council: Press remarks by High Representative Kaja Kallas upon arrival

European External Action Service (EEAS)

01.12.2025
Brussels, 01.12.2025
EEAS Press Team

Check against delivery!

Good evening, everybody.

Dear Minister Kosherbayev, dear Yermek, congratulations on your recent appointment, and it is really my pleasure to welcome you here in Brussels, for the Cooperation Council.

It is the first time we held the Cooperation Council at such a senior level, and it says a lot about our growing importance of the EU's relationship with Kazakhstan. Over the last 20 years, the EU has collectively invested more than €200 billion in Kazakhstan. We are your main trading partner and main investor. Last year, over 45% of Kazakh exports came to the EU. But likewise, Kazakhstan is truly a vital partner for the European Union, especially for our energy security. Ninety percent of Kazakh exports to the EU are oil, gas and uranium. And Kazakhstan is home to many critical raw materials, lithium for batteries, nickel for steel, wires, turbines, amongst others.

At the first EU Central Asia Summit in April, we announced €12 billion for investments in the region under the Global Gateway strategy. Five billion euros could benefit Kazakhstan, including the finance projects related to the critical raw materials. Trade requires reliable transport. This is why the EU is investing heavily in the Trans-Caspian Transport Corridor.

Russia's war in Ukraine has woken us all up to the need for diversified trade routes. This need will remain even if the war is over. But the EU's partnership with Kazakhstan is, of course, more than energy and critical raw materials. First and foremost, it is about bringing our people closer together.

Today, I am happy to announce that tomorrow we will officially begin negotiations on the Visa Facilitation Agreement and the readmission agreement between the European Union and Kazakhstan. And Kazakhstan already participates in Horizon Europe and Erasmus+, there is a lot of interest from Kazakh citizens to travel to the European Union. And once in force, a formal agreement would reduce visa processing times, lower admin fees, reduce paperwork and make it easier to visit the European Union.

Ten years of our Enhanced Partnership and Cooperation Agreement has given us direction, but I think we both agree that the next 10 years must be defined by results: solid projects, modern infrastructure, and stronger value chains.

Dear Yermek, thank you once again for being here, and over to you.

Link to the video: https://audiovisual.ec.europa.eu/en/media/video/I-281574