The FINANCIAL — On December 21 in Astana, the European Union and Kazakhstan signed an Enhanced Partnership and Cooperation Agreement.
The Agreement was signed by Federica Mogherini, High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy/Vice-President of the European Commission, and by Erlan Idrissov, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
“Kazakhstan has become the first of our Central Asian partners to conclude a new generation agreement with the EU,” said High Representative/Vice-President Frederica Mogherini. “The new agreement will give a significant boost to economic and political ties between the EU and Kazakhstan,” she added.
The new Agreement will create an enhanced legal basis for political and economic relations between the EU Kazakhstan, providing a broad framework for reinforced political dialogue, cooperation in home and justice affairs and in many other areas, according to European Union.
The Agreement puts a strong emphasis on democracy and the rule of law, human rights and fundamental freedoms and sustainable development as well as civil society cooperation, including involvement of civil society in the public-policy making, notably in the implementation of this Agreement.
The focus of enhanced cooperation in foreign and security policy will be in the areas of regional stability, weapons of mass destruction (WMD), international cooperation in the fight against terrorism, conflict prevention and crisis management.
The trade part of the Agreement will ensure better a regulatory environment for the economic operators in areas such as trade in services, the establishment and operation of companies, capital movements, raw materials and energy, government procurement and intellectual property rights.
The Agreement will also enhance concrete cooperation in some other 29 key policy areas, including in the sectors of economic and financial cooperation, energy, transport, environment and climate change, employment and social affairs, culture, education and research.
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