EP and Kazakhstan develop interparliamentary cooperation
The delegation of the European Parliament, led by Vice Chair of the Subcommittee on Human Rights, Cristian Dan Preda, has come to Astana. It is the first visit of the EP to Kazakhstan. The delegation representing the European Parliament’s Committee on Foreign Affairs is including European MEPs from Romania, Portugal, Spain, Poland, Latvia and the United Kingdom. What is the purpose of their arrival? And what will they discus with the Kazakh side? Read more in the review material of the Strategy2050.kz Information Agency.
The delegation of the European Parliament has come in order to develop interparliamentary cooperation and experience exchange in the field of lawmaking.
During the meeting Kazakhstan’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and the EP delegation discussed the importance of effective implementation of common goals, principles and priorities laid down in the Enhanced Partnership and Cooperation Agreement between Kazakhstan and the European Union, based on respect for the values of democracy, the rule of law and human rights.
In particular, the program of the stay of the European deputies includes meetings with the leadership of the Mazhilis of the Parliament of Kazakhstan, the relevant Committees of the Senate and the Mazhilis, the General Prosecutor's Office and the Ministry of Social Development. Along with this, within the framework of the visit, the delegation will visit Nazarbayev University and Al-Farabi Kazakh National University, as well as Kazakhstan's analytical centers.
By the way, the EP delegation has already met with the members of the Senate Committee on Constitutional Legislation, Judicial System and Law Enforcement Bodies, headed by Committee Chairman Georgy Kim.
Greeting colleagues, G. Kim stressed that cooperation with the European Union is one of the strategic directions of Kazakhstan's foreign policy.
"The Parliament of Kazakhstan is interested in the further development of a constructive dialogue with the European Parliament within the framework of the Kazakhstan-EU Parliamentary Cooperation Committee", he said.
During the meeting, the issues of implementation of the constitutional reform initiated by President of Kazakhstan N. Nazarbayev, ensuring the rule of law, fighting corruption, digitization, facilitating the visa regime for citizens of Kazakhstan visiting the EU countries were discussed.
At the Ministry of Social Development of Kazakhstan, Vice-Minister Sergei Konovalov also met with the delegation of the European Parliament. In the course of the dialogue, Sergei Konovalov briefed the representatives of the European Parliament on the activities of the Ministry, told about the main achievements of independent Kazakhstan and its capital - Astana, which hosted the historic OSCE summit in 2010 and the international exhibition EXPO-2017.
"Kazakhstan is a reliable partner of the European Union and plays an important geopolitical role in the Central Asian region", Cristian Dan Preda noted, commenting on our country.
The representatives of the European Parliament asked about the religious situation in the country, about the main characteristics of the Kazakhstani identity, the position of oralmans, and also touched upon the issues of gender equality and trade union activities.
At the end of the conversation, the sides spoke in favor of further development of relations between the EU and Kazakhstan.
In the course of the meeting held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the sides discussed the current issues on the international agenda, including the activities of Kazakhstan in the UN Security Council, the Syrian settlement process within the Astana process, the restoration of a peaceful life in Afghanistan, the development of a new EU Strategy for Central Asia, as well as the issues of strengthening the political dialogue, including in the sphere of the rule of law, promotion of the values of democracy, ensuring human rights and freedoms.
In his welcoming speech, Kairat Abdrakhmanov stressed the importance of interparliamentary exchanges, the establishment of an inclusive and confidential dialogue on all issues of interest.
"Inter-parliamentary cooperation makes a significant contribution to strengthening cooperation based on mutual interests and common values, promotes mutual understanding and achievement of concrete results", the Kazakh Foreign Minister noted.
In this context, the results of the 15th meeting of the Parliamentary Cooperation Committee "Republic of Kazakhstan-European Union" held in Astana in May of this year were noted. In addition, since the beginning of the year, Kazakhstan has been visited with official visits by the delegations of the deputies of the national parliaments of Germany, Poland, Romania, Spain, Italy and Switzerland, who were able personally to get acquainted with the current processes in our country.
In its turn, the European Union attaches a key importance to cooperation with Kazakhstan and closely monitors the processes taking place in the country, as well as international initiatives of Kazakhstan aimed at strengthening peace and security, both at the regional and international levels.
Having welcomed the modernization of political, economic and social life under the leadership of President Nursultan Nazarbayev, the European deputies expressed confidence that these processes will contribute to the strengthening of mutual understanding and bilateral cooperation.
According to the general opinion of the parties, a powerful impetus to the development of bilateral cooperation across the whole spectrum of cooperation is intended to give the early entry into full force of the Enhanced Partnership and Cooperation Agreement between Kazakhstan and the EU. At present, 23 out of 28 EU member states have ratified the Agreements, and in December 2017 the document was also approved by the European Parliament.
Following the talks, the parties agreed to continue constructive cooperation and dialogue on the full range of issues.
Saltanat Sarina
Photo by the press service of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan
