Brussels, 31/05/2013 (Agence Europe) - Negotiations for a new partnership and cooperation agreement are to be among the matters to be discussed during the visit by the Commission president to Astana, in Kazakhstan.
The president of the European Commission, José Manuel Barroso, is to make his first official visit to Kazakhstan from 1 to 3 June. While there, he will meet President Nursultan Nazarbayev, Prime Minister Serik Akhmetov and Chairman of the Lower Chamber of Parliament Nurlan Nigmatulin. Barroso will also meet representatives of the Kazakh business community and civil society.
EU-Kazakhstan bilateral cooperation, multilateral cooperation and regional and international issues will be discussed at the meeting. At bilateral level, discussion will focus on several priority issues, including the strengthening of mechanisms for political dialogue, as well as negotiations on a new partnership and cooperation agreement to replace the current agreement signed in 1995, which took effect in 1999. The development of trade relations, simplification of the visa regime, improving cooperation on civil aviation and activating links in the area of external security, science, innovation and new technologies are also on the agenda for discussion.
Bilateral trade in goods between the EU and Kazakhstan exceeded €31 billion in 2012 (€24.4 billion in exports for Kazakhstan, €6.9 billion in exports for the EU). The EU is at the source of 47% of foreign investment in Kazakhstan. For the period 1993 to 2013, total direct investment from EU countries in Kazakhstan amounts to US$ 80 billion. (EH/transl.jl)