By Roman Vassilenko, Ambassador of the Republic of Kazakhstan to the European Union
The 2nd of February marks the 33rd anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the Republic of Kazakhstan and the European Union. Thirty-three is not merely a number. It is an age associated with maturity, confidence, and the ability to look both backwards with appreciation and forward with purpose. In many ways, this perfectly captures the state of Kazakhstan-EU relations today.
When Kazakhstan and the European Union first established diplomatic ties in the early 1990s, both were navigating moments of historic transformation. Kazakhstan had just emerged as an independent state, charting its course in a rapidly changing world. The European Union, too, was deepening its integration and redefining its global role. What began as a cautious dialogue has, over 33 years, evolved into a comprehensive, resilient, and forward-looking partnership.
At thirty-three, relationships are no longer defined by experimentation but by trust built through experience. Over more than three decades, Kazakhstan and the EU have learnt to work together across political dialogue, trade and investment, energy, connectivity, education, climate cooperation, and people-to-people exchanges.
Our Enhanced Partnership and Cooperation Agreement, signed in 2015, covers 29 areas of interaction and stands as a testament to this maturity, providing a structured and ambitious framework that reflects the depth of our engagement. This evolution reached a new milestone at the First Central Asia–EU Summit in Samarkand in April 2025, where leaders affirmed a shared strategic vision for deeper regional and interregional cooperation.
The European Union is Kazakhstan’s largest trading partner and foreign investor, while Kazakhstan is a key partner for the EU in Central Asia. In 2025, trade turnover reached $45 billion, and the EU has invested more than $200 billion since 2005. Currently, over 4 thousand European companies operate in Kazakhstan, including Alstom, Claas, Carlsberg, Polpharma, TotalEnergies, Siemens, Airbus, and others.
These facts are significant, but numbers alone do not tell the full story. What matters equally is the shared understanding that our cooperation is not transactional, but strategic – and unmistakably human – rooted in mutual respect, common interests, and a commitment to multilateralism, international law, and sustainable development.
At 33, one also gains the confidence to face challenges openly. The past few years have tested global stability, supply chains, and established assumptions about security and cooperation. In this context, Kazakhstan and the EU have demonstrated the ability to engage in honest dialogue, seek pragmatic solutions, and reaffirm shared principles. As the Kazakh proverb says, “Eski dos – eki jana dostan artyq” – meaning “an old friend is worth more than two new ones”, reflecting the enduring trust and shared experience that underpins our partnership. European Council President Antonio Costa’s visit to Kazakhstan in December 2025 further reinforced this trajectory, highlighting the political will on both sides to translate shared priorities into concrete outcomes.
Our cooperation on sustainable development, green and digital transition, critical raw materials, and regional connectivity reflects a joint determination to adapt and lead, rather than react.
There is something symbolic about turning 33: it is an age when one understands that growth is continuous. Over the years, I have seen Kazakhstan’s partnership with the European Union grow into a mature and forward-looking relationship, where ambition is grounded in experience and optimism is reinforced by real progress.
Today, Kazakhstan stands on the verge of a deep and wide-ranging constitutional reform, at the same time as it continues to pursue its balanced and constructive foreign policy, seeking to contribute to the establishment of a fair global order.
Meanwhile, the EU, facing the unprecedented upheaval in some of its more traditional relationships, seeks to deepen its engagement with like-minded partners around the globe, including with Central Asia.
We are, therefore, bound to work even closer together, as shared responsibilities and converging interests make cooperation not only desirable but also necessary, particularly in critical areas such as transport connectivity, agriculture, green and digital transformation, education, and the strengthening of ties between our societies.
Marking 33 years of diplomatic relations is, therefore, not only a moment to reflect on how far we have come but also to look ahead with shared confidence. We are convinced that the years ahead will bring our partnership and societies even closer, guided by dialogue, trust, and a shared belief in the lasting value of cooperation and friendship.
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