On Thursday, 9 May, Saeima adopted in the final reading the Law on Enhanced Partnership and Cooperation Agreement between the European Union and its Member States, of the one part, and the Republic of Kazakhstan, of the other part, ratifying the cooperation agreement signed on 21 December 2015.

“Cooperation with Central Asia is one of Latvia’s foreign policy priorities. I am absolutely convinced that not only Latvia, but also the whole of the EU considers Central Asia a promising partner for economic cooperation. Kazakhstan is one of the most important cooperation partners of Latvia in the region, and I am especially delighted that the review of the EU Central Asia Strategy began during the Latvian Presidency of the Council of the EU, thus highlighting the importance of relationships with Kazakhstan,” stressed Ojārs Ēriks Kalniņš, Chair of the Saeima Foreign Affairs Committee.

According to the Chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee, it is symbolic that Latvia, the EU member state with the closest ties to Kazakhstan, became the first of Union’s members to ratify the agreement.

In addition, Kazakhstan is the first of Central Asian countries to sign an enhanced cooperation and partnership agreement with the EU.

Ratification of the agreement by all EU member states and the Council of the EU is the last step in the process of building a modern legal framework for the EU-Kazakhstan relationship. This framework will promote Kazakhstan’s cooperation with the EU and enhance trade and investment relations between Latvia and Kazakhstan.

The agreement aims to promote political dialogue and trade, security, migration, financial and judicial cooperation between the parties.

The Law comes to force the day following its promulgation. Implementation of the Agreement is to be supervised by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Saeima Press Service