Kazakhstan

The EU and Kazakhstan are working together in the regional context of developing the Trans-Caspian Transport Corridor, to modernise infrastructure, improve logistics efficiency, and strengthen regional economic integration along the Trans-Caspian Transport Corridor. Efforts include:

• Working through the Coordination Platform for the Corridor and stimulating investments, including through pre-feasibility studies to support infrastructure development.
• Identifying key infrastructure projects to improve transport links, including ports expansions, road and railway improvements , and logistics centres.
• Facilitating trade and investment for a greater cooperation among Central Asian countries, to improve the business climate and investments, including organisation of the EU-Central Asia Investors’ Forum and the EU-Central Asia Economic Forum.
• Improving Kazakhstan’s cross-border security by enhancing regional collaboration on border management and countering illicit trafficking, including through the BOMCA programme (Border Management Programme in Central Asia) and efforts to reduce the demand and trafficking of illegal drugs (CADAP, Central Asia Drug Action Programme).

Kazakhstan plays a key role in ensuring sustainable supply chains for critical raw materials (CRM), which are essential for the EU’s green and digital transition. Our efforts focus on:

• Increased cooperation between the EU and Kazakhstan on CRMs through the 2022 Memorandum of Understanding on sustainable raw materials, batteries, and renewable hydrogen value chains.
• Increased cooperation between Central Asia and the EU with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), including through a joint project on geological research and resource mapping on lithium and tungsten, in partnership with the national Kazakh company Tau-Ken Samruk.
• The critical raw materials Global Facility.
• The EBRD Hi-Bar Programme for the Energy Transition, supported by the European Fund for Sustainable Development +.

The EU partners with Kazakhstan to enhance digital connectivity by strengthening policies and regulations that support the development of sustainable and inclusive satellite networks. Investments focus on building satellite ground stations for digital connectivity in remote and underserved areas.

The EU, Team Europe, and local partners promote regional cooperation on energy and water management. The green transition itself will also be an opportunity for sustainable growth and job creation. The EU and Kazakhstan are making progress through key initiatives, including:

• The bilateral Cooperation Facility programme that promotes the alignment of Kazakhstan's Emission Trading System (ETS) with the EU's ETS framework; a national implementation framework for the content of the Water Code (related to digital technologies and groundwater management, among others).
• The regional Central Asia Water & Energy Programme which promotes greater regional cooperation for more resilient and better integrated water and energy management, to support the resilience of Central Asian countries to climate change.
• The EU4Sustainable Central Asia: 
  • Renewable Energy in Central Asia (RECA) programme, which strengthens conditions for regional and national integration of renewable energy in Central Asia.
  • Joint Action and Coordination on Water, Energy and Climate Change programme, which improves regional coordination on water management and establishes a Team Europe secretariat.

The EU supports Kazakhstan in strengthening the rule of law, democratic governance, and civil society engagement in line with international standards. Actions focus on:

• Strengthening the capacities of Kazakh civil society organisations to promote civic participation and governance reforms.
• The regional Civil Society Facility that enhances the capacities of Central Asian CSOs to participate in policy making processes at the regional level.
• Facilitating dialogue through the EU-Central Asia Civil Society Fora.
• Enhancing local development and access to justice.
• Promoting awareness of human rights, including a project on the history and role of Kazakh women’s movements.

To strengthen healthcare, and skills development, contributing to social well-being and economic opportunities, the EU partners with Kazakhstan on:

• Strengthening the resilience of immunisation systems, with strong emphasis on the digitalisation of health information systems.
• Fostering inclusive and labour market-relevant skills development opportunities for the Kazakh youth.