Astana, the capital of Kazakhstan, hosted a meeting between the President of the European Council Charles Michel, and the leaders of Central Asian countries on October 27, 2022. Before the visit, Michel said, “The European Union (EU) is ready to deepen ties with Central Asia and support intra-regional cooperation.” [1]
Following the talks, the President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev emphasized that developing partnerships with the EU is one of Kazakhstan’s main foreign policy ambitions. Tokayev made the following remarks on the subject: [2]
“The visit provides an excellent opportunity to celebrate significant achievements across the spectrum of the partnership between Kazakhstan and the EU. Next year we will celebrate the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations. We consider your official visit to Kazakhstan as evidence of mutual interest in bringing our relations to a new level.”
Michel, who visited Kazakhstan for the first time and came to Astana at Tokayev’s invitation, stated: “Central Asia and Europe are coming closer together and becoming more and more connected.”, emphasizing that issues such as energy and climate change were discussed at the meeting,[3] Michel drew attention to the fact that Kazakhstan, the EU’s largest trading partner in Central Asia, has turned into a regional “transport connectivity hub” between the East and the West.
The parties also addressed the relocation of non-sanctioned European companies to Kazakhstan during the talks held between Michel and Tokayev. In this context, Michel emphasized that international sanctions must be followed and that attempts to evade these sanctions are unacceptable, underlining that the EU restrictions placed on Moscow are not intended for third parties. Kazakhstan satisfies the EU’s standards in this regard. After the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Astana announced that it would comply with international sanctions against Moscow. While Kazakhstan’s decision sparked a backlash from Russia, it was welcomed by the West. The United States (US) and the EU have stated that they will assist in ensuring that Russia’s sanctions do not harm Kazakhstan.
Tokayev and Michel emphasized the need of extending transport corridors and constructing new lines between Europe and Central Asia “while keeping in mind the current geopolitical environment,” and they discussed the prospects and development of the Trans-Caspian international transport route. Both leaders have decided to further implement the Enhanced Partnership and Cooperation Agreement between Kazakhstan and the EU, the EU Strategy for Central Asia, as well as new EU initiatives for Central Asia for “connectivity and other sectors.”[4]
Kazakhstan has become the first and only Central Asian state to sign an Enhanced Partnership and Cooperation Agreement with the EU. Tokayev believes that regular high-level exchanges strengthen the parties’ comprehensive dialogue. Aiming to play a kind of “buffer market” role between the East and the West as well as the South and the North, Kazakhstan wants the EU to cooperate in the development of alternative transcontinental corridors, including the Trans-Caspian International Transport route. Furthermore, it is stated that the priority areas of cooperation are energy and food security, the “green” economy, and the development of transportation and logistics lines.
While Kazakhstan is adversely impacted by Russia’s economic sanctions, putting the government in a tough position, the country’s objective is to encourage European corporations withdrawing from Russia to invest in Kazakhstan.
After Russia cut off the supply of Kazakh oil through the Caspian Pipeline Consortium, both Europe and Kazakhstan have been looking for means to establish an alternate route. While the problems with Russia negatively affected Kazakhstan’s oil exports, it also offered Kazakhstan the opportunity to get rid of its dependence on Russia.
The EU is revising its Central Asia strategy by taking advantage of the geopolitical conjuncture. Accordingly, the EU’s Central Asia strategy includes ensuring the uninterrupted flow of energy resources (Kazakhstan oil and Turkmen gas), developing transit lines with Central Asia, being active in the regional market, and making the EU one of the region’s alternate centers of attraction once again.
While Kazakhstan, like other Central Asian nations, wishes to establish a Middle Corridor between Europe and China and values the Belt-Road Project, the EU prefers that Kazakhstan expand its ties with itself rather than with China. As an Asian country and China’s neighbor, Kazakhstan aspires to establish a balanced relationship between Beijing and Brussels. The EU, on the other hand, wants Kazakhstan’s foreign policy axis to be oriented toward the West. Given the international conjuncture, Kazakhstan’s national interests, and the demands of the EU, ties between Kazakhstan and the EU are expected to strengthen in the medium term.
[1] @CharlesMichel, “In Astana to Deepen The Ties With Central Asia”, Twitter, October 27, 2022, https://twitter.com/CharlesMichel/status/1585490060140503040, (Date of Accession: 27.10.2022).
[2] “Токаев и Мишель обсудили сотрудничество Казахстана и ЕС”, 24 Mir, https://mir24.tv/news/16528613/tokaev-i-mishel-obsudili-sotrudnichestvo-kazahstana-i-es, (Date of Accession: 27.10.2022).
[3] Ibid.
[4] “Мишель заявил о роли Астаны в регионе, отметил важность «всестороннего» расследования Январских событий”, We Freed the Radio, https://rus.azattyq.org/a/32102887.html, (Date of Accession: 27.10.2022).
