The European Union has welcomed the work of the OSCE Program Office in Astana across all three dimensions of security, praising its cooperation with Kazakhstan's authorities and diverse local partners. In a statement delivered at the OSCE Permanent Council on 11 June 2026, the EU commended the Office's activities in politico-military, economic-environmental, and human dimensions, highlighting achievements such as training over 100 officers in open-source intelligence and facilitating the return of 22 trafficking victims from Southeast Asia to Central Asia.
The statement, published by the EEAS on 15 June 2026, was delivered by the EU delegation to the OSCE in Vienna. It noted the growing number of requests from national institutions as evidence of the high regard for the Office's expertise. The EU also welcomed the recent visit of OSCE Secretary General Sinirlioğlu in April 2026 and the continued constructive cooperation between the OSCE's Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) and Kazakhstan, including ODIHR Director Telalian's visit in April.
In the politico-military dimension, the EU appreciated activities in border security, countering transnational threats, cybercrime, confidence-and security-building measures, and security sector reform. The integration of advanced document verification methodologies into national border security systems was singled out as commendable. The Office's practical activities related to the Vienna Document were also welcomed.
On economic and environmental governance, the EU supported the Office's work in strengthening good governance, combating corruption and money laundering, and promoting financial integrity. Contributions to environmental governance, particularly in water management and transboundary water cooperation, were valued as essential for sustainable development and climate resilience in Central Asia. Initiatives on disaster risk reduction, including an updated manual for middle-school teachers and students, were also praised.
In the human dimension, the EU appreciated work on rule of law, judicial reform, democratic governance, and combating trafficking in human beings. The return of 22 trafficking victims was highlighted as a success of regional cooperation. The EU encouraged further progress in media freedom and looked forward to improvements in the promotion and protection of human rights. Cross-dimensional initiatives on Women, Peace and Security, women's economic empowerment, and preventing gender-based violence were also welcomed.
The statement also referenced the EU-Kazakhstan Cooperation Committee meeting in Astana the previous week, where both sides reaffirmed their strong partnership and commitment to the international rules-based order. This builds on the visit of European Council President António Costa to Kazakhstan on 4 December 2025. The EU and Kazakhstan reiterated their commitment to deepen cooperation under the Enhanced Partnership and Cooperation Agreement, focusing on political dialogue, rule of law, economic and trade relations, energy and transport, critical raw materials, and regional security. The EU remains Kazakhstan's leading trading partner and largest foreign investor.
The statement was endorsed by Albania, Andorra, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Republic of Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Norway, and Ukraine.
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