Kazakh citizens could soon benefit from eased visa processes for Europe, following talks held at the 22nd meeting of the Kazakhstan-European Union Cooperation Council held in Brussels, an event that also marked a decade since the two signed their Enhanced Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (EPCA).
The meeting laid the groundwork for facilitating EU visa processes for Kazakh citizens and for further development of the EU-Kazakh economic partnership through trade and transport links.
European Union and Kazakhstan held the 22nd meeting of their Cooperation Council in Brussels, chaired by Kazakhstan’s Foreign Minister Yermek Kosherbayev, with the EU delegation led by High Representative Kaja Kallas.
— EU in Kazakhstan (@EUinKazakhstan) December 2, 2025
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The European Union remains Kazakhstan’s largest trading and investment partner, with bilateral trade hitting $50 billion in 2024, plus $200 billion in European investment. More than 4,000 Europe-linked companies operate in the Central Asian country. The EU has also reaffirmed a €45-million investment into the port of Aktau and €150 million for upgrades to Kazakhstan’s road network.
On infrastructure, the talks focused on strengthening the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (known as the Middle Corridor), as a reliable and sustainable trading channel between Europe and Asia, against a backdrop of shifting geopolitics and uncertain supply chains.
The Cooperation Council between the European Union and Kazakhstan held a meeting today, 1 December, in Brussels.
— European External Action Service – EEAS 🇪🇺 (@eu_eeas) December 1, 2025
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The expansion of access for Kazakh domestic agricultural products coming into the EU market was another key topic, as was more cooperation in the fields of green and digital transformation, raw materials, and industrial decarbonisation, representing an opportunity to both modernise Kazakhstan’s economy and bolster the industrial resilience of Europe. In talks with the EU Commission for International Partnerships, Josef Sikela, ahead of the Council, Kazakhstan’s Foreign Minister, Yermeк Kosherbayev, had said: “We attach particular importance to expanding cooperation in critical raw materials, transport and logistics, digital innovation, agriculture, education, and water management.”
But for many, perhaps the most notable subject of the meeting is its emphasis on expanding people-to-people contacts, particularly through EU visa pathways for Kazakh citizens and readmission. Although Kazakhstan already participates in Horizon Europe and Erasmus+ programs, with EU destinations among the most popular for Kazakhs, the advent of enhanced visa pathways could, according to a statement by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan, “significantly contribute to strengthening humanitarian ties, expanding opportunities for students, scholars, and professionals, and enhancing citizen mobility.”
That sentiment was echoed by the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Kaja Kallas, commenting on the formal launch of visa negotiations and a readmission agreement for overstayers or individuals illegally residing in the EU. Kallas highlighted the possibility of reduced processing fees and times, as well as streamlined bureaucracy, if negotiations come to fruition. Kazakhstan announced visa-free travel for citizens of 56 countries in July 2025.
