About: Kazakhstan
Kazakhstan plans to model new ETS on EU’s scheme, say lawmakers
Kazakhstan plans to align its revamped carbon emissions trading scheme closely with the EU’s as part of its domestic green transition plans, its lawmakers said at a conference hosted by EURACTIV.
Kazakhstan president visits Brussels in effort to deepen relations
The President of Kazakhstan, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, paid a rare official visit to Belgium on Thursday and Friday (25-26 November) in an effort to present his country as a reliable partner to the EU and open the door to new opportunities.
Trade Minister of Kazakhstan: As WTO chair, we will push for consensus on reform
In an exclusive interview, the Minister of Trade and Integration of Kazakhstan Bakhyt Sultanov discussed the upcoming WTO ministerial under the chairmanship of his country, EU-Kazakhstan economic relation, and carbon border tax.
Kazakhstan will stop using coal from 2050
Kazakhstan aims to achieve carbon neutrality by 2060, which means expanding the share of renewables to 83% and halting heat generation from coal after 2050, Serikkali Brekeshev told EURACTIV in an interview.
Meta and Kazakhstan spar over Facebook control
Facebook owner Meta Platforms and the government of Kazakhstan issued contradictory statements on Tuesday (2 November) after the Kazakh government announced that it had been granted exclusive access to the social network's content reporting system.
Stakeholders: Human capital and green transformation are key for Kazakhstan
Investment in human capital, green transformation, and attention on human rights is essential for the further successful development of Kazakhstan, stakeholders at a recent forum in Nursultan said.
Kazakhstan minister: We steadily observe our obligations in the field of human rights
Kazakhstan is moving towards reforms progressively and steadily, with the state now supporting and financing NGOs and the political opposition enjoying full parliamentary rights, Aida Balaeva, the minister of information and social development, told EURACTIV in an interview.
Kazakh official: The Taliban are no threat to Central Asia
It is necessary to create conditions for dialogue with the new government in Afghanistan, regardless of its political attitudes and ideologies. This is very important for both the Central Asian countries and the EU, Kazakhstan's Talgat Kaliyev told EURACTIV in an interview.
Kazakhstan looks for best practices in Europe to improve child rights
When Kazakhstan decided it was going on the hunt for the "practical, best practices for effective solutions" that would bolster the rights of its youngest citizens, the Central Asian children's rights ombudswoman came to Europe.
Kazakhstan justice minister: We aim to create good conditions for foreign investors
In a wide-ranging interview, Kazakhstan's Justice Minister Marat Bektaev discussed Kazakhstan's relations with the EU, its ongoing multi-billion international court cases, and the Central Asian country’s strategic development plans and efforts to create good conditions for foreign investment.
Uzbekistan celebrates 30th anniversary of independence hoping for new ‘Renaissance’
Uzbekistan is celebrating on Wednesday (1 September) the 30th anniversary from its independence from the Soviet Union, as a milestone in its nation building, while it is looking forward to the next stage of its development called “Third Renaissance”.
Kazakh human rights reforms signal modernisation but EU lawmakers doubtful
Current human rights-related reforms in Kazakhstan are a step in the right direction, stakeholders from the country told a recent EURACTIV event but European Parliament lawmakers across the political spectrum were not entirely convinced.
Human Rights in Kazakhstan – The road ahead
In June 2021, Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev signed a decree “On further measures of the Republic of Kazakhstan in the field of human rights”, which he said represents an important step in the political modernisation of the Central Asian country....
Tajikistan calls up reservists to bolster border as Afghan troops flee Taliban
Tajikistan's president on Monday (5 July) ordered the mobilisation of 20,000 military reservists to bolster the border with Afghanistan after more than 1,000 Afghan security personnel fled across the frontier in response to Taliban militant advances.
Police reform in Kazakhstan: Effective law-enforcement close to the population
The reform of the law enforcement system has started in Kazakhstan recently as part of the overall modernisation of the country and the first evaluation of the results achieved look very optimistic, writes Yerlan Turgumbayev.
Presidential envoy: For Kazakhstan, the EU is a neighbor
In a wide-ranging interview, Yerzhan Kazykhan, special representative of the president of Kazakhstan for international cooperation, discussed the state of play of the Central Asian country's relations with the EU, its international initiatives and new projects, such as joining the EU’s battery alliance.
Kazakh independent expert: Human rights NGOs enjoy more influence
A lot has change over the last years in Kazakhstan in terms of human rights, but more work is outstanding, independent expert Nazgul Yergalieva told EURACTIV in an interview, describing how the authorities in the central Asian country are now cooperating with NGOs in improving human rights protection.
Kazakhstan says it has upper hand in multi-billion legal case
Legal representatives for the government of Kazakhstan have told EURACTIV they believe the Central Asian country has gained the upper hand in a long-running legal battle surrounding what they called "one of the biggest frauds in the history of international arbitration".
Kazakhstan announces new efforts to improve human rights record
Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has signed a decree “On further measures of the Republic of Kazakhstan in the field of human rights”, which he said represents an important step in the political modernisation of the Central Asian country.
Kazakhstan rebuffs talk of joint sanctions response with Russia
Kazakhstan on Saturday (5 June) dismissed a senior Russian official's idea of a joint response to Western sanctions against Moscow and its allies such as Belarus by a Russia-led post-Soviet trade bloc.
Kazakhstan’s Ombudsman: Parliamentary lobbying must be healthy and legal
Before the European Parliament adopted a resolution on Kazakhstan in February, there was no comprehensive dialogue at the decision-making level and no complete analysis of the EU lawmakers' sources of information, Elvira Azimova, Kazakhstan's commissioner for human rights, told EURACTIV in an interview.
Analyst: Central Asian ‘patient’ is ready for deeper cooperation
Even though unresolved border disputes stand in the way of further economic integration of Central Asia, this vast region is ready to deepen ties, according to Askar Nursha.
EU prioritises climate, connectivity, regional cooperation in its Kazakhstan relations
Ahead of the EU-Kazakhstan Cooperation Council on 10 May, EURACTIV spoke to an EU official to gather information about the EU's expectations for the cooperation with Kazakhstan and with Central Asia in the years to come.