Education and Culture in the Focus of the Strategic Partnership between Kazakhstan and the European Union

May 20, 2025

Diplomatic World co-organised, with the Embassy of Kazakhstan in Brussels and MEP Giusi Princi, Chair of the Delegation for Relations with Central Asia, a roundtable at the European Parliament devoted to strengthening EU-Kazakhstan relations in the fields of culture and education, which are often overlooked but essential pillars of the EU’s burgeoning ties with Central Asia and Kazakhstan.

The aim of the event was to strengthen the bilateral dialogue between Kazakhstan and the European Union, as well as to develop new forms of long-term partnerships in the areas of higher education, academic mobility, and cultural exchange.

The roundtable continued the active political and institutional dialogue between the EU and Kazakhstan, based on the Enhanced Partnership and Cooperation Agreement.

In their speeches, they emphasised the importance of academic mobility, the development of joint research programs, and the role of science and higher education in strengthening strategic ties between Kazakhstan and the EU.

Particular attention was given to the implementation of joint cultural projects and the promotion of Kazakhstan’s cultural heritage in EU countries.

During the event, European and Kazakh participants discussed the promotion of European academic exchange programs, including Erasmus+, digitalisation of education, sustainable development through culture, youth initiatives, and the role of education and culture in building an inclusive and sustainable society.

Special attention was given to the initiatives of President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev of Kazakhstan, who at the EU–Central Asia Summit in Samarkand highlighted the importance of expanding regional participation in the Erasmus+ programme as a key instrument for strengthening scientific, educational, and interpersonal cooperation.

Additionally, the EU’s decision to grant Kazakhstan a mandate to begin negotiations on visa facilitation was noted as an important step toward expanding cultural and humanitarian cooperation and fostering closer ties between Kazakh and European communities.

Members of the European Parliament, as well as representatives of the EU academic and expert communities, emphasised that Kazakhstan is one of the EU’s key partners in Central Asia, with whom the Union is keen to further develop dialogue on strategically significant long-term issues.