Brussels, 31 May 2023
Tomorrow, 1 June, Vice-President for Interinstitutional Relations and Foresight, Maroš Šefčovič, will travel to Kazakhstan to follow up on the implementation of the Strategic Partnership on raw materials, batteries and renewable hydrogen with Kazakhstan, launched by President von der Leyen and Prime Minister of Kazakhstan Alikhan Smailov in November 2022. The mission is a first step on practical implementation of the Strategic Partnership Roadmap endorsed via exchange of letters between President von der Leyen and Prime Minister Smailov on 17 May.
In line with Global Gateway, the European Commission and the Republic of Kazakhstan share a strong and clear commitment to intensify their mutual cooperation in strategic sectors, including strengthening energy security through the development of alternative energy supply routes; enhancing sustainable and secure digitalisation including digital sovereignty; improving transport connections; and transitioning to a green, sustainable, and climate-neutral economy that creates jobs for people.
Kazakhstan remains a key partner for the EU in the field of critical raw materials, given their crucial enabling role in successfully achieving the green and digital transition within and outside Europe.
In this context, the Vice-President will witness the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and Kazakhstan’s national mining company Tau-Ken Samruk (TKS). The Vice-President will also sign a letter of intent reiterating EU’s commitment to explore options for closer cooperation with the EBRD, inter alia in support of the EBRD-TKS MoU, and more broadly to deliver on the implementation of the strategic partnership on sustainable raw materials, batteries and renewable hydrogen value chains between the EU and Kazakhstan, including in the context of a future European Fund for Sustainable Development Plus (EFSD+) guarantee agreement with the EBRD, still under negotiations.
On 2 June, Vice-President Šefčovič will deliver a keynote speech at the 13th International Astana Mining & Metallurgy Congress (AMM2023), a global event in the mining and metallurgical industry, with worldwide recognition.
During the visit, he will hold bilateral meetings with the Prime Minister of Kazakhstan, Alikhan Smailov, the Minister of Industry, Marat Karabayev and the Minister of Energy, Almasadam Satkaliyev. He will also meet with CEOs of EU and Kazakh businesses.
Vice-President Šefčovič will also make opening remarks at the Plenary Session ‘Achieving Carbon Neutrality: Regional Experience and Prospects’, a conference part of the first EU-Kazakhstan Sustainable energy days. In this context, he will also announce the winners of the #Reels4SustainableEnergy contest and of a mural design competition among university students, young researchers and young professionals in the area of engineering, energy, environment and climate studies from all five Central Asian countries.
Press points, pictures and videos will be available on EbS, and live updates on the Vice-President’s social media channels.
Source – EU Commission