Kazakhstan and the EU Unveil Strategic Partnership Roadmap for 2025-2026
EU and Kazakhstan Boost Collaboration on Essential Mineral Resources
ASTANA - The first-ever EU-Central Asia Summit in Samarkand on April 4 witnessed the endorsement of a partnership roadmap for 2025-2026 between Kazakhstan and the European Union.
This revised partnership roadmap, following the achievements of the 2023-2024 roadmap, lays out more specific goals to implement the November 2022 memorandum of understanding between the EU and Kazakhstan on strategic partnership in raw materials, batteries, and renewable hydrogen.
Key Components of the Partnership Roadmap
The roadmap pinpoints several significant areas for advanced cooperation, including:
- Geological Exploration and Research: The roadmap underscores collaboration in geological exploration and research, aiming to optimize the utilization of Kazakhstan's abundant natural resources in an environmentally friendly manner.
- Innovation and Skills Development: Skills training programs are emphasized to prepare local workers with the required expertise in these sectors.
- Best Practices and Governance Standards: The roadmap seeks to promote best practices and adherence to Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) standards, ensuring projects are sustainable, responsible, and economically viable.
- Investment Projects: The roadmap outlines support for joint investment projects, primary among which are those chosen as strategic projects under the EU Critical Raw Materials (CRM) Act.
- Battery Production and Renewable Hydrogen: Although specific projects in these areas are not detailed, the partnership focuses on strategic integration in battery production and renewable hydrogen, cementing their roles in the transition to cleaner energy sources.
- Ongoing Collaborations and Funding: The €3 million EU-funded project executed by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) underscores the persistent partnership between the EU and Central Asia in the critical raw materials sector.
EU Ambassador Willows on the Partnership
Aleska Simkic, EU Ambassador to Kazakhstan, expressed that the new roadmap signifies another momentous step in the EU's cooperation with Kazakhstan, underscoring a shared dedication to sustainability and resilience.
The Ambassador stated, "This set of activities we have agreed on represent a holistic approach we apply in our cooperation on critical raw materials. Our partnership is already yielding tangible results, underscoring our commitment to a solid and mutually beneficial collaboration."
The Future of the EU-Kazakhstan Partnership
With a keen focus on integrating strategic value chains in critical raw materials, battery production, and renewable hydrogen, while building upon the existing Enhanced Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (EPCA), the EU-Kazakhstan partnership is poised to progress with significant strides.
- The EU and Kazakhstan's strategic partnership roadmap for 2025-2026, endorsed in 2024, focuses on integrating strategic value chains in areas such as battery production and renewable hydrogen.
- The partnership roadmap highlights the importance of geological exploration and research in Kazakhstan, aiming to optimize the utilization of its resources in a manner that is environmentally friendly.
- Skills training programs are emphasized in the partnership roadmap to prepare local workers with the expertise needed in sectors like renewable energy and critical raw materials.
- The roadmap outlines support for joint investment projects, with those chosen as strategic projects under the EU Critical Raw Materials (CRM) Act being primary among them.
- The EU Ambassador to Kazakhstan, Aleska Simkic, stated that the new roadmap represents another significant step in the EU's cooperation with Kazakhstan, demonstrating a shared commitment to sustainability and resilience.
