The Law on Enhanced Partnership and Cooperation Agreement between the European Union and its Member States and the Republic of Kazakhstan (Draft No. XIIP-4627(2) was supported by 77 MPs. There were no votes against and no abstentions.
As noted in the Explanatory Memorandum, this document represents a new-generation partnership and cooperation agreement concluded by the EU with the first Central Asian country. “This Agreement is particularly important as Kazakhstan, even though a part of the Eurasian Economic Union, decided to deepen and broaden its relations with the EU by concluding an agreement covering many new areas which until now have not been regulated under the existing Treaty,” the document states.
The Agreement will strengthen the political dialogue and improve cooperation in a broad range of areas. It includes the EU’s standard provisions on human rights, the International Criminal Court, weapons of mass destruction, small arms and light weapons and counter-terrorism. It also contains provisions on cooperation in the areas of health, environment, climate change, energy, taxation, education and culture, employment and social affairs, science, technology and transport. In addition, it covers legal cooperation, the principle of the rule of law, money laundering and terrorist financing, organised crime and corruption. Provisions on trade are also included in the Agreement. These will ensure a better regulatory environment for businesses in Kazakhstan, and thus bring substantial economic benefit for EU businesses.
