On 23 June 2026, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President António Costa met with Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev in Brussels, signing a series of agreements to strengthen the EU-Kazakhstan strategic partnership. The leaders highlighted the growing geopolitical importance of connectivity, energy security, and resilient supply chains, and reaffirmed their commitment to the Enhanced Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (EPCA), which marked its 10th anniversary in 2025.
During the visit, the EU and Kazakhstan signed a Horizontal Aviation Agreement and concluded negotiations on Visa Facilitation and Readmission Agreements, aimed at boosting connectivity and people-to-people ties. The leaders also welcomed a certificate agreement between Air Astana and Airbus for up to 50 A320neo/A321neo aircraft, valued at EUR 7.145 billion, as a tangible example of deepening cooperation in aviation and innovation. On critical raw materials, they committed to advancing the roadmap for the EU-Kazakhstan Strategic Partnership on Sustainable Raw Materials, Batteries, and Renewable Hydrogen value chains. The EU recognised Kazakhstan's role as a key oil and uranium supplier and discussed potential cooperation in renewable and civil nuclear energy.
Financial cooperation was bolstered with the signature of a EUR 150 million European Investment Bank (EIB) agreement supporting transport connectivity and a European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) Memorandum of Understanding for a chemical-analytical laboratory in Kazakhstan. The opening of an EIB office in Astana was encouraged, following the 2025 EU-Central Asia Summit Declaration. The leaders also reaffirmed commitments to climate action, the green energy transition, and cooperation in education and research through Erasmus+ and Horizon Europe.
On political reforms, the EU acknowledged Kazakhstan's new Constitution adopted via referendum in March 2026 and welcomed continued dialogue on human rights, rule of law, and anti-corruption, including cooperation with the Venice Commission and TAIEX/Twinning programmes. The presidents stressed shared commitment to UN principles, effective multilateralism, and support for nuclear-weapon-free zones. The EU noted Kazakhstan's initiative to establish an International Water Organization within the UN system. They also welcomed the upgrade of EU-Central Asia relations to a strategic partnership and highlighted outcomes of the April 2026 Regional Ecological Summit in Astana.
The agreements signal a shift towards a more conciliatory and cooperative EU approach to Central Asia, focusing on economic integration and investment rather than conditionality. The concrete proposals include measurable financial commitments (EUR 150 million EIB loan) and a clear timeline for visa facilitation, while the critical raw materials roadmap and aviation deal provide tangible deliverables. The partnership balances EU interests in securing raw materials and energy supplies with Kazakhstan's need for investment and connectivity, with moderate positive impacts for EU industry (access to critical raw materials) and Kazakh state (investment and technology transfer), but potential negative impacts for EU competitors in the region and for civil society if governance reforms lag.