Brussels, 6 December 2024
The European Union (EU) and Turkmenistan held their 23rd Joint Committee on 4 December 2024 in Brussels. In a comprehensive meeting, the two sides exchanged on the progress made in the relations between the EU and Turkmenistan since the last meeting in 2023, in particular in the areas of trade, connectivity, energy and environment, and further areas of cooperation.
Both sides confirmed and welcomed the continued deepening of relations between the EU and Central Asia in the course of 2024. The EU underscored its regional approach to connectivity that encompasses all five Central Asian countries and recalled ongoing work towards increasing operation efficiency and economic attractiveness of the Trans-Caspian Transport Corridor (TCTC). In this respect, the EU thanked Turkmenistan for hosting the political launch of the TCTC Coordination Platform on 3 October 2024 in Ashgabat.
The two sides discussed the macroeconomic situation in the EU and Turkmenistan. The EU highlighted the potential for enhancing bilateral trade ties and encouraged Turkmenistan to continue work on improving the investment climate. Both sides expressed willingness to increase cooperation in support of the green transition, including hydrogen power and renewable energy. Furthermore, the EU reiterated its support for Turkmenistan’s accession to the World Trade Organization, including through ongoing and upcoming technical assistance programmes.
The EU and Turkmenistan took stock of ongoing regional and bilateral cooperation programmes, including the two Team Europe Initiatives (EU institutions and its Member States) for Central Asia. In addition, both sides reviewed cooperation in the field of research and education, with the EU encouraging Turkmenistan to enhance its participation in the international dimension of Erasmus+, Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions and Horizon Europe.
Recalling the broader geopolitical context, the EU condemned Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine and invited Turkmenistan to pursue a principled position supporting international law and the principles of the UN Charter.
It was welcomed Turkmenistan’s readiness to discuss with the EU issues in the field of human rights, rule of law and democratisation, and expressed its hope to see progress on the commitments that Turkmenistan took at the Human Rights Dialogue on 25 June 2024.
The EU delegation was led by Luc Devigne, Deputy Managing Director for Europe and Central Asia of the European External Action Service. The Turkmen delegation was led by Serdar Joraev, Minister of Finance and Economy of Turkmenistan, with the participation of Deputy Minister of Environment Nury Jumashov and Deputy Minister of Education Azat Ataev.
Source – EEAS