By Martin Banks

This December marks 10 years since Kazakhstan and the European Union signed the Enhanced Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (EPCA).

The agreement is seen by both sides as a key milestone that confirmed the shared commitment to a broad and forward-looking partnership.

As part of the ongoing celebrations of the anniversary a series of key meetings are taking place.

The Kazakh Foreign Minister Yermek Kosherbayev was due to meet with Kaja Kallas, the EU’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the European Commission, for the 22nd meeting of the Kazakhstan – EU Cooperation Council on Monday (1 December).

The meeting takes place in Brussels and, according to EU sources, will review EPCA implementation and discuss other issues such as trade, investment, humanitarian ties, and political dialogue.

The Cooperation Council meeting will review key aspects of EU-Kazakhstan relations, notably political, economic and trade matters and cooperation. This discussion will cover internal reforms, rule of law and human rights, readmission and visa facilitation, cooperation facility, Global Gateway flagship programmes, critical raw materials and sustainable connectivity, said the EU council source.

The EU and Kazakhstan will also exchange ideas on regional and international developments, including security and sanction related matters.

Meanwhile, the European Council President António Costa is due to visit Kazakhstan on December 3 to mark the 10th anniversary of the Enhanced Partnership and Cooperation Agreement.

This follows a meeting last week between Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and the EU Special Representative for Central Asia Eduards Stiprais.

The same EU source said the meetings “reaffirm” Kazakhstan’s commitment to strengthening its multifaceted cooperation with the EU.

The meetings in Astana and Brussels “underscore” shared priorities: expanding cooperation in connectivity, critical minerals, digital innovation, agriculture, and education.

Data shows that in 2024, bilateral trade with the EU reached $48.8 billion, and more than 80% of Kazakhstan’s oil exports are directed to European markets. More than 4,000 European companies operate in Kazakhstan.

Roman Vassilenko, Ambassador of Kazakhstan to Belgium,EU & NATO, points out the ongoing close cooperation with the EU and spoke of his hopes how this might grow in the coming years.

A major project underway in the region is called the Middle Corridor, a multimodal transportation route that connects China and Southeast Asia to Europe via Central Asia, the Caspian Sea, Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Türkiye. It offers an alternative to the northern route through Russia.

Another area of keen interest to the EU is raw materials.

According to the EU’s own assessments, Kazakhstan can supply 21 of the 34 raw materials the EU considers critical, including several categorised as strategic.

The two sides, said the Kazakh ambassador, enjoy a long standing partnership which is grounded in mutual respect, shared interests and goals and a commitment to a rules based order.

Referring to the 10th anniversary of the agreement, he says his country had been the 1st central Asian state to sign and ratify such a deal which, he noted, now spreads across nearly 30 sectors and areas and that the EU is his country’s leading trade and investment partner.

On challenges like climate change and regional security, there was also a dynamic political dialogue taking place.

He says the meeting of the EU-Kazakhstan Cooperation Council is a chance to “review the enhanced agreement and our rapidly expanding agenda.”

It was clear, he added at an event at Brussels press club last week, that, despite current economic instability in the world, relations with the EU are “growing, are strong and more dynamic than ever.

Speaking separately to Euronews, Yermek Kosherbayev, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan, said “the past decade has shown what this partnership can achieve. The decade ahead must be defined by implementation: strategic projects, stronger value chains, modernised infrastructure, and deeper technological cooperation.”

He told the EU-wide broadcaster, “Europe’s transition will ultimately depend on securing the materials that underpin future industries. With the right choices, both sides can build a stronger and more resilient partnership. Kazakhstan stands ready to work with the European Union to turn shared challenges into shared strengths,” he said.

“As we mark 10 years since the Enhanced Partnership and Cooperation Agreement, the direction is clear: Kazakhstan and the EU share a long-term interest in stable, resilient and predictable supply chains that underpin economic growth and deliver the technologies needed for a cleaner future,” he said in the Euronews article which is dated 28 November.