The Enhanced Partnership and Cooperation Agreement between the European Union and Kazakhstan entered into force on 1 March 2020. This new agreement, which constitutes the first of its kind signed by the EU with one of its Central Asian partners, provides a comprehensive framework within which bilateral relations are conducted and has elevated relations between the EU and Kazakhstan to a new level. 

The EU Strategy on Central Asia provides the overall framework for regional engagement. The Strategy, which focuses on resilience and prosperity, should support, amongst other priorities, Kazakhstan's transition to a green economy and the diversification of its economy. 

Relations taken to a new level 

The Enhanced Partnership and Cooperation Agreement creates an enhanced legal basis for EU- Kazakhstan relations, providing a broad framework for reinforced political dialogue, comprehensive sectoral cooperation, and promoting mutual trade and investment. It will also enhance concrete cooperation in 29 other key policy areas, including in the sectors of: 

• Justice and home affairs.
• Economic and financial cooperation.
• Energy and transport.
• Environment and climate change. 
• Employment and social affairs.
• Culture, education and research. 

EU – the main trade partner for Kazakhstan 

The EU is by far Kazakhstan's most significant trade partner, representing 32.4% of its total trade in 2024. Kazakhstan's exports to the EU are almost entirely in the oil and gas sectors, alongside minerals, chemicals and food products. In 2024, exports from Kazakhstan to the EU totalled EUR 33.5 billion and the import volume from the EU to Kazakhstan totalled EUR 11.5 billion. 

From a broader perspective, enhanced EU-Asia connectivity is crucial to Kazakhstan. In this context, a level playing field for business is key, notably by enhancing transparency of public procurement in infrastructure, including through accession to the WTO Government Procurement Agreement (GPA) and the adoption of GPA standards. 

Support from the European Union has been important to Kazakhstan’s development since the country’s independence in 1991. More than 350 projects amounting to EUR 180 million have been funded by the EU.

To support the implementation of the Enhanced Partnership and Cooperation Agreement, a bilateral Cooperation Facility of EUR 9 million for 2021-2024 includes capacity development and institution building activities, support for policy dialogues leading to policy reforms, communication activities.

The Cooperation Facility focuses on two priority areas:

a) Sustainable Economic Growth, with a focus on trade facilitation, development of the Trans-Caspian Transport Corridor, climate change mitigation and adaptation, environment protection;

b) Rule of Law to strengthen the legal framework and institutions in place, including local administrations to support the decentralisation reform process as well as possible support to institutions at national level.

This facility is currently being implemented after the bilateral Financing Agreement has been signed between Kazakhstan and the European Commission in May 2023.

In addition, the EU supports civil society organisations and their role as local governance and accountability actors and as promoters of inclusive and sustainable growth. We are proud to support civil society organisations in strengthening their collaboration with local authorities to increase transparency in decision-making and localise Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to the benefit of people throughout Kazakhstan. The EU Delegation publishes regularly Call for Proposals for NGOs in these areas.

As a result of the 2023 Call for Proposals (EuropeAid/176656/DD/ACT/KZ), the following projects have been contracted to be implemented with the EU grant financing for the total amount of EUR 2,400,000:

1) JANARTU - Empowerment and association of CSOs, LAs and pasture users as a key to enhance grassroots self-governing practices and sustainability of the pastoral ecosystem in Almaty Region. Overall objective: to promote an enabling environment for dialogue and cooperation between local administrations, CSOs and rural communities to increase local ownership of the decentralisation process and SDG implementation. Coordinator: Felcos Umbria (Italy).

2) ENABLE - Empowered Civil Society for a Sustainable and Efficient City.  Overall objective: to support the development of sustainable housing in Kazakhstan, with a focus on energy efficiency in buildings, through civil society participation. Coordinator: Housing Initiative for Eastern Europe (IWO), Germany.

3) Monitoring of government development programs performed by civil society actors as the key component of the policy dialogue in Kazakhstan. Overall objective: to improve the transparency and effectiveness of implementation of Kazakhstani government development programs and plans in four regions of the country by the means of public monitoring provided by trained civil society actors in Turkestan, Kostanay, Pavlodar and Zhetysu regions of Kazakhstan. Coordinator: The Public Fund ''INFORMATION and RESOURCE CENTER" (brand name “Almaty Civic Centre”).

4) EcoDialogue - Strengthening Kazakh CSOs to become strong actors in policy dialogues and implementation of human environmental rights. Overall objective: to strengthen Kazakh Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) as independent actors of good governance and development in Kazakhstan by building a strong and consolidated movement in the field of environmental policy with the focus on waste management and climate change mitigation. Coordinator: The Center «Cooperation for Sustainable Development».

5) Dialogue Between Civil Society and Government is the Way to a High Quality of Life. Overall objective: to increase the efficiency of national state programmes and develop plans in solving social problems to meet the real needs of the target groups. Coordinator: ZUBR CONSULTING CENTER.

6) GLocal Action to promote SDG localization in Kazakhstan. Overall objective: to promote good governance and SDG localization through strengthening the capacity and role of civil society as independent actors in pilot regions of Kazakhstan. Coordinator: Civil Society Development Association "ARGO"

There are ongoing projects which received EU grants as a result of the previous Calls for Proposals.

1) Participation of the civil society in mitigation of the climate change in Karaganda Oblast of Kazakhstan. Overall objective: to increase participation of civil society in tackling climate change in Karaganda Region in order to contribute to Kazakhstan's achievement of the Paris Agreement goals. Coordinator: ARNIKA – Citizens Support Centre, Czech Republic

2) Promotion of human rights in the media. Overall objective: to promote human rights through strengthening the capacity of media and NGOs. Coordinator: North Kazakhstan Legal Media Centre

3) Kazakhstan Uncensored. Overall objective: to promote and protect fundamental freedom of expression in Kazakhstan. Coordinator: Institute for War and Peace Reporting

As a result of the 2023 Call for Proposals (EuropeAid/176656/DD/ACT/KZ), the following projects have been contracted to be implemented with the EU grant financing for the total amount of EUR 2,931,500:

1) Consolidating the civil society actors of Western Kazakhstan to promote and protect human rights and fundamental freedoms as an indispensable factor of democratic reforms in New Kazakhstan. Overall objective: to improve the quality of human rights protection in Kazakhstan by strengthening the capacity of civil society organizations and consolidating their efforts in four regions of Western Kazakhstan (Mangistau, Atyrau, Western Kazakhstan, and Aktobe). Coordinator: Eco Mangistau.

2) Breaking the Cycle: A Multifaceted Approach to Combat Torture in Kazakhstan. Overall objective: Contribute to eradiation of torture in Kazakhstan. Coordinator: Taldykorgan Human Rights Centre.

3) Civil Society for Kazakhstan (CS4K). Overall objective: to promote fundamental freedoms and rights in Kazakhstan through civil society led efforts. Coordinator: Institute for War and Peace Reporting.

4) Coordinated Civil Society Action to Promote Rule of Law for All. Overall objective: to promote human rights, the rule of law and justice in Kazakhstan. Coordinator: Legal Policy Research Centre. 

The European Union’s engagement with the region has significantly expanded since the early 1990s and gained further impetus since 2022, building upon Central Asia’s geographical location and tradition of bringing Europe and Asia together. Both regions share strong common interests in maintaining prosperity, connectivity, energy and security.

Our regional activities are part of the EU Global Gateway initiative, to develop climate, energy, transport and digital networks and infrastructure and their health, education and research systems in the region.

Through Global Gateway, the EU and its Member States provide their technical and financial support under fair and favourable terms in order to limit the risk of debt distress. It helps build sustainable and secure infrastructure with the support, skills and the finance needed to operate it. Investments in critical priorities are promoted, ensuring proper transparency, good governance and high standards of human, social and workers’ rights.

Under the 2021-2027 regional Central Asia programme, EUR 170 million are allocated to the region in the different priority areas.

The EU's development priorities are focused in a region that needs to address economic diversification, is facing significant environmental challenges, and which offers large potential to improve intraregional trade as well as trade and investment with the EU.

Assistance provided by the European Commission combined with assistance provided by EU Member States individually makes the European Union the number one provider of development assistance in the region. The European Commission assistance to Central Asia reached EUR 1.1 billion for the period 2014-2020. To better tailor the development programs to each country’s specificities, such as their existing level of development and an assessment of needs, the European Union employs a differentiated approach to its assistance, with a focus on the poorest and the most fragile countries.

Regional programs aim at supporting a broad-based process of dialogue and collaboration between the five Central Asian countries. Regional cooperation is important for energy, climate, water, environment and socio-economic development, but also in the area of civil society development and rule of law.

1. Global Gateway Flagship Water Energy Climate

This flagship will contribute to managing water and energy resources sustainably, addressing environmental challenges and tackling climate change in the five Central Asian countries. The project is implemented with the EU’s direct contribution of EUR 20 million. 

Central Asia Water and Energy Program (CAWEP) – 8 EUR million implemented by WB. The project supports regional cooperation for a more resilient and better integrated water and energy management under a changing climate with focus on key regional water-energy infrastructure projects (Roghun and Kambarata HPPs) and cooperation mechanisms (IFAS, CA regional energy market). 

EU4SustainableCentralAsia: Joint Action and Coordination on Water, Energy and Climate Change – 7 EUR million implemented by GIZ. The projects aims to establish Team Europe Initiative secretariat to align all the Team Europe activities and planned events, and provide technical assistance to support river basin dialogues, development of policy documents, public awareness campaigns, and strengthening monitoring capacities. 

Renewable Energy in Central Asia (EURECA) - 5 EUR million implemented by GIZ. The project aims to strengthen framework conditions for regional and national integration of renewable energy in Central Asia in cooperation with political decision makers, electricity grid operators and further governmental stakeholders.

SECCA, which stands for the EU Support to Sustainable Energy Connectivity in Central Asia, is a EUR 6.8 million programme aiming at promoting a more sustainable energy mix in the Central Asian region in line with the EU best practices. The project aims to strengthen and enhance a more inclusive policy, regulatory and institutional framework for the transition to a sustainable energy system within a regional context and focuses on contributing to the fulfilment of international human rights commitments in the CA countries, including equal access to energy and supporting gender-responsive policies and legislation for EE and RE deployment. Read more: https://secca.eu/

2. Global Gateway Flagship CRM

EU Prosperity Programme in Central Asia: Expanding Activities in Critical Raw Materials in Central Asia – 3 EUR million implemented by EBRD. The project aims to increase cooperation on critical raw materials between the EU and relevant Central Asian countries, and increase the resilience of raw materials and battery supply chains, through technical preparatory work, capacity building and promotion of best practices and relevant standards.

3. Global Gateway Flagship Digital connectivity

This flagship aims to develop the legal and regulatory environment for satellite communication, and establish Satellite connectivity operators (SatComs) in Central Asian countries with direct connectivity to the EU. It consists of two components: soft connectivity, a EUR 20 million project to create an enabling policy and regulatory framework for satellite connectivity and improve internet access; and hard connectivity, a EUR 35 million project aimed at installation of satellite ground terminals that deliver broadband backhauling services in unserved or underserved, particularly rural, areas.

4. Global Gateway Flagship Transport

Soft connectivity - 12 EUR million. The future project will focus on improving soft connectivity and gender-responsive regulatory frameworks in Central Asia and along the Trans-Caspian Transport Corridor, including regulatory approximation with EU and international technical standards and best practices in low carbon and resilient development.

Trans Caspian Transport Corridor Coordination Platform – 3 EUR million. The future project will aim to improve effectiveness of intra-regional cooperation and coordination in the field of transport, connectivity and trade with a focus on the Trans-Caspian Transport Corridor.

Preparatory studies - EUR 15 EUR million the future project will support preparatory studies for potential investments in green and climate-proofed key infrastructure of the Trans-Caspian Transport Corridor.

Additional regional programmes:

Ready4Trade Central Asia: Fostering Prosperity through the Trans-Caspian Transport Corridor aims to advance the connectivity agenda of Central Asia through enhancing the Trans-Caspian corridor and internationalising Central Asian businesses. This component will be implemented by the ITC.

This is a continuation of the Ready for Trade (R4T) which from 2020-2024 has supported the development of intra-regional and international trade in 5 CA countries. Read more: https://intracen.org/our-work/projects/central-asia-ready4trade-r4tca

EU Prosperity Programme in Central Asia: OECD Central Asia Invest aims to promote high-level political engagement (e.g. through biannual EU-Central Asia Economic Forum), independent analysis of the economic and business climate and support reform of economies. This component will be implemented by the OECD. 

EU Civil Society Facility in Central Asia implemented by UNOPS and Danish Institute for Human Rights. The project aims to foster and promote a conducive and well-functioning operating environment for CSOs in Central Asia through regional engagement. 

DARYA, which stands for Dialogue and Action for Resourceful Youth in Central Asia, is a EUR 10 million programme implemented by ETF that will support inclusive skills development, relevant to labour market needs, for young women and men in the five Central Asian countries.

The two specific objectives of DARYA are:

• To foster the quality and inclusiveness of education, training and employment systems in Central Asia;
• To foster participatory and inclusive dialogue and cooperation mechanisms at national and regional level.

CACCR

CACCR, which stands for Central Asia COVID-19 Crisis Response, is a EUR 10.3 million programme co-financed by the EU and the WHO that contributes to mitigating the impact and controlling the COVID-19 pandemic in the region and reinforcing their longer-term health resilience. This Action provides assistance for:

• A rapid and safe roll-out of vaccines;
• Building long-term resilience of routine immunization systems;
• Building the capacity for the region to achieve universal health coverage through digitalization of health systems.

Migration

Improving Migration Management & Migrant Protection in Selected Silk Route Countries (PROTECT) is implemented by the International Centre for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD) and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC). The overall objective is to contribute to migrant protection in the target countries covering all phases of (in and out) migration, including countering and preventing irregular migration, trafficking in human beings and smuggling of migrants. The total budget is EUR 9 million and the duration is of 3 years. The beneficiary countries are: Afghanistan [In line with Council Conclusions of September 2021, EU and Member State activities in Afghanistan will be guided by the identified benchmarks for engagement and carried out without benefit to or interference from the de facto authorities], Iraq, Pakistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, and Tajikistan.

Afghan women empowerment 

In 2019, in response to a proposal from the Kazakh Government, the EU launched a EUR 2 million programme, implemented by UNDP in collaboration with UN Women, to support the economic empowerment of Afghan women through education and training in Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan. 

This action aims to build resilience and support the socio-economic empowerment of Afghan women through education and training in Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan. This first trilateral cooperation programme between the EU, Afghanistan and Central Asia (Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan) adds a new dimension to the development cooperation between the EU and Kazakhstan. 

The new phase of the project has been launched in 2021 with a total budget of EUR 4 million and involves Kyrgyzstan in addition to Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan. The goal is to provide 105 Afghan women with higher and professional education by 2027.

Rule of Law

The Central Asia Rule of Law Programme is implemented by the Council of Europe over the period of four years (2020-2024) with the overall budget of EUR 8,889,000 (90% is funded by the European Union, 10% by the Council of Europe). The Programme is open to all Central Asian countries wishing to benefit from the Council of Europe expertise and meeting the conditions for co-operation in line with the policy of the Council of Europe towards neighbouring regions. The Programme is also in line with the European Union Strategy for Central Asia. The Programme aims to improve the lives of citizens by reinforcing human rights, rule of law and democracy in accordance with European and other international standards, based on a demand-driven approach.

IFCA/EFSD+ 

Investment Facility for Central Asia (IFCA) / European Fund for Sustainable Development Plus (EFSD+) are regional blending facilities, designed to combine EU grants with other financial resources provided by international financial institutions (e.g.: EIB, EBRD) and other public and private sources, in order to leverage additional non-grant financing. By reducing, through co-financing, the overall cost of the project and/or its perceived risk, the IFCA encourages beneficiary governments, private sector and/or public institutions to carry out essential investments in sectors that could otherwise be postponed/ not financed at all.

The IFCA has been established in 2010 and since 2022, it is being replaced by the EFSD+. IFCA/EFSD+ are aligned with the objectives of the ’EU-Central Asia Strategy for a New Partnership’. The main purpose of these two funds is to promote additional SDGs-relevant investments in key infrastructure, with a focus on climate, green action and environmental protection, including energy efficiency, waste and water management. In addition, the investment allocations help to improve access to finance for small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) and to promote social sector investments.

The EU supports Kazakhstan’s ongoing legal reforms and the promotion of human rights offering experience and know-how in particular through financial and technical cooperation and specific projects funded under the European Instrument for Democracy and Human Rights. 

With a budget of EUR 1 million per year, the EU finances a variety of projects in Kazakhstan that focus on encouraging a pluralistic political system while strengthening the role of civil society. 

Kazakhstan also benefits from a number of instruments and programmes: 

• The Instrument contributing to Stability and Peace focusing on crisis response, crisis preparedness and conflict prevention.
• The Border Management Programme in Central Asia (BOMCA) and the Central Asia Drug Action Programme (CADAP).
• Erasmus+ supporting mobility of students and academic staff and capacity building projects. 

Erasmus+ programme supports the mobility of students and academic staff and capacity building projects. The 2021-2027 programme places a strong focus on social inclusion, the green and digital transitions, and promoting young people’s participation in democratic life.

The EU is allocating EUR 76 million (2021-2027) for the Erasmus+ programme in Central Asia. In its previous phase, Erasmus+ offered more than 3,300 short-term scholarships for Kazakh students or staff to come to study or train in Europe, and over 1,500 scholarships for European students to study in Kazakhstan. In the programming period 2021-2027, around 1 200 Kazakh students and staff benefitted from short-term mobility programmes to study or train in Europe, and over 500 European students staff visited Kazakhstan within international credit mobility. Since 2021, 260 Kazakh students have received a scholarship to complete a joint master programme in Europe.

Kazakh higher education institutions are now involved in 17 Capacity Building in Higher Education projects aimed at curriculum development and modernisation, including new teaching and learning practices, improving university governance and creating better links between higher education and the world of work. Kazakh universities are also implementing 13 Jean Monnet projects aimed at promoting excellence in teaching and research in the field of European Union studies. Furthermore, in 2024, Kazakhstan became the first and only country from Central Asia to serve as the Coordinator of the Erasmus Mundus Design Measure project.

For detailed information about Erasmus+ programme, please visit the website of the National Erasmus+ Office in Kazakhstan at https://erasmus.kz/en or email erasmusplus.kazakhstan@gmail.com. 

Kazakh science and research institutions can also apply for funds under the Horizon Europe program.                   

Horizon Europe is the EU’s key funding programme for research and innovation with a budget of EUR 95.5 billion. It tackles climate change, helps to achieve the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals and boosts the EU’s competitiveness and growth.

The programme facilitates collaboration and strengthens the impact of research and innovation in developing, supporting and implementing EU policies while tackling global challenges. It supports creating and better dispersing of excellent knowledge and technologies. It creates jobs, fully engages the EU’s talent pool, boosts economic growth, promotes industrial competitiveness and optimises investment impact within a strengthened European Research Area.

Kazakhstan benefits also from TAIEX and SOCIEUX+ programmes.

TAIEX is the Technical Assistance and Information Exchange instrument. TAIEX supports public administrations with regard to the approximation, application and enforcement of EU legislation as well as facilitating the sharing of EU best practices. It is largely needs-driven and delivers appropriate tailor-made expertise to address issues at short notice in three ways:

• Workshops: EU Member State experts present specific areas of EU legislation in workshops to a large number of beneficiary officials.
• Expert missions: EU Member States expert(s) are sent to the beneficiary administration to provide in-depth advice on the transposition, implementation or enforcement of a specific part of EU legislation.
• Study visits: a group of five practitioners from a beneficiary administration take part in a study visit to an EU Member State’s administration.

SOCIEUX+ EU Expertise on Social Protection, Labour and Employment is a facility for technical cooperation between public and social partner peers established and co-funded by the EU. The general objective is to expand and improve access to better employment opportunities and inclusive social protection systems.

Based on the peer exchange model, SOCIEUX+ shares knowledge and experiences through short-term missions and activities that enhance the capacity to design, manage, and monitor inclusive, effective, and sustainable employment strategies and social protection systems.