A Partnership for a New Era: Kazakhstan and the EU Look to the Future
A decade has passed since Kazakhstan and the European Union signed their Enhanced Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (EPCA), a period marked by significant mutual gain. Today, the EU stands as Kazakhstan’s largest trading and investment partner, a relationship cemented by the successful operations of thousands of European companies within our nation. These enterprises have not only profited but have played a crucial role in modernizing and diversifying the Kazakh economy. This foundation is a considerable achievement, yet in a world of profound and rapid change, it is no longer sufficient. As I return to Brussels, I am driven by a clear conviction: the strategic partnership between Kazakhstan and the European Union is more vital today than ever before, and it is imperative that we now strengthen it decisively.
The geopolitical landscape that underpinned our previous cooperation has fundamentally shifted. In an era where raw geography and national power are resurgent, global supply chains are vulnerable, and economic interdependence is often weaponized for national security, nations face a stark choice. They can retreat into isolated blocs or they can forge new partnerships built on mutual respect and shared interest. Kazakhstan, situated at the crossroads of continents, has always chosen the path of connection. Our foreign policy is one of bridge-building, and this role is now empowered by robust economic strength. With our economy expanding by 6.5% in 2025 and projected to exceed $360 billion in 2026, a larger and more dynamic Kazakhstan emerges as a stronger, more reliable partner for Europe at the very heart of Eurasia.
Looking ahead, our renewed partnership must focus on three strategic pillars: strengthening mutual resilience, expanding connectivity in all its forms, and creating tangible new opportunities for our citizens. Our existing cooperation in energy security—where Kazakhstan supplies a significant portion of the EU’s petroleum and natural uranium—is a powerful testament to this model of trusted interdependence. We must replicate this success in other critical areas, such as agriculture and the green transition. Kazakhstan, as a major grain producer, can contribute to Europe’s food security diversification, while European technology can transform our agricultural and industrial sectors through deeper processing and value-added production. Similarly, our vast resources in critical raw materials and industrial potential, when met with European expertise and investment, can fuel a more resilient and competitive economic future for both partners.
This evolution requires moving beyond a simple model of commodity extraction in exchange for investment. The next chapter should be a sophisticated partnership that creates value at every stage through technology transfer, research collaboration, and joint ventures. Central to this vision is connectivity, exemplified by the development of the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route, or Middle Corridor. This modern Silk Road is more than just a faster freight route; it is the backbone of a new system integrating Europe’s markets with Central Asia’s resources and logistics potential. True connectivity has always been about generating opportunity—integrating markets, stimulating investment, and bringing societies closer together. It harnesses geography for shared productivity and prosperity.
Our partnership must also fully embrace the technologies that will define the coming decades. Ambitions in artificial intelligence, digital governance, and innovation ecosystems are rapidly becoming central to both economic competitiveness and national resilience. Kazakhstan is committed to digitalizing its state and economy, and we seek continued close cooperation with European tech leaders to ensure this progress is inclusive, secure, and human-centred. Most importantly, a strategic partnership must improve lives. We are making progress on facilitating easier travel for our citizens, and we must further raise the bar on educational and scientific collaboration through programs like Erasmus+ and Horizon Europe. More academic mobility, joint research, and pathways for young people are essential to building the shared future we envision.
Kazakhstan approaches this next decade as a nation in profound renewal, understanding that resilience begins at home. Our new constitution and the comprehensive political and economic reforms it enables reflect our next generation’s aspiration for a just society governed by the rule of law, human rights, and accountable institutions. We want our partners to find not only new markets in Kazakhstan, but also a stable, predictable, and transparent environment for long-term engagement. The last decade has given us the confidence that we can partner successfully. As we look forward, we are committed to ensuring this partnership delivers ever more meaningful results. The good news is that Europe and Kazakhstan already possess most of the necessary tools. Together, we will innovate the rest.
