Kazakhstan and EU discuss simplification of visa regime in Brussels

    Minister of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan, Erlan Idrissov met on October 14 with Luis Felipe Fernández de la Peña, Europe and Central Asia Managing Director of the European External Action Service.
    During the talks, the two sides discussed the current state and prospects for bilateral cooperation in the economy, energy, security, as well as the withdrawal of Kazakhstan's flights from the EU black lists, the MFA said.
    The meeting was held on the sidelines of Idrissov's working visit to Brussels on October 8-9.
    He signed the joint Kazakh - EU political statements for the successful completion of negotiations on a new expanded partnership pact and the completion of bilateral talks on Kazakhstan's accession into the WTO.
    “The new expanded partnership pact with the EU is an opportunity for Kazakhstan to bring our cooperation to a qualitatively new level in all areas. Therefore, we are interested in its rapid implementation,” Foreign Minister Idrissov said.
    The parties discussed prospects for easing the visa regimes, which will also contribute to the intensification and deepening of political, economic and cultural-humanitarian dialogue between Kazakhstan and the European Union, the officials claim.
    “Every year, more than 100,000 citizens of the Republic of Kazakhstan visit the European countries. In this regard, visa facilitation is of particular interest. The current visa regime no longer meets existing realities and objectives of the development of political and economic dialogue,” said Idrissov.
    He also said Kazakhstan is interested in the implementation of the EU Strategy for Central Asia. "The strategy should not only meet the interests of the European community only, but also the long-term needs of the region's countries. Kazakhstan highly appreciates and supports the initiative of the EU high-level dialogue on security in Central Asia and the EU. Kazakhstan is ready to provide the necessary assistance to its development, taking active part in,” he concluded, according to Akipress.