Kazakhstan and the European Union share a long-standing interest in stable, resilient and predictable supply chains that support economic growth and provide the technologies necessary for a cleaner future, writes Foreign Minister Yermek Kosherbayev in a commentary for Euronews.
This December marks the 10th anniversary of the signing of the Enhanced Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (EPCA) between Kazakhstan and the European Union. This is a significant milestone that has confirmed our shared commitment to a broad and forward-looking partnership.
Over the past decade, cooperation has expanded in the areas of political dialogue, security, investment, education and connectivity. With investments exceeding €200 billion since 2005, the EU is now Kazakhstan's largest trading and investment partner.
Today, as in the past, our partnership is shaped by a shared commitment to the UN Charter and its principles, as well as by a shared conviction that many global challenges can only be addressed through deeper cooperation between Europe and its close and reliable partners.
One of these challenges, which is crucial for Europe's long-term growth, is securing the materials and technologies necessary for the green and digital transformation. Europe's dependence on a limited group of suppliers of critical raw materials has become a determining factor in its competitiveness.
Ensuring stable access to these inputs is no longer just an industrial issue, but a strategic priority. It is in this context that Kazakhstan can play a significant role.
Kazakhstan is already part of the solution
The European Commission has emphasised that Europe must diversify its sources of critical raw materials. The question now facing European policymakers is how to mitigate risks while maintaining the momentum of the Green Deal.
Kazakhstan is already part of the solution. In 2024, bilateral trade with the EU reached $48.8 billion, and more than 80% of Kazakhstan's oil exports go to European markets.
Looking ahead, we see an opportunity to build safer and more diversified supply chains for critical minerals for Europe, an area where our resources and experience are directly relevant.
The past decade has shown what this partnership can achieve. The coming decade must be marked by implementation: strategic projects, strengthened value chains, modernised infrastructure and deeper technological cooperation.
The EU Critical Raw Materials Act highlights the scale of the challenge. By 2030, Europe aims to extract, process and recycle a significantly larger share of its consumption, while reducing its dependence on a single external supplier.
Recent disruptions have shown how easily supply chains can be weakened by geopolitical tensions or logistical shocks. Demand for copper, graphite, rare earths, manganese, titanium and other minerals for the energy transition is growing at a rate that significantly exceeds global supply.
Kazakhstan is one of the few countries that can help fill this gap. According to the EU's own assessment, Kazakhstan can supply 21 of the 34 raw materials that the EU considers critical, including several classified as strategic. Our Sarytogan graphite mining project is included in the EU's official list of strategic projects under the Critical Raw Materials Act.
The basis for this cooperation is solid. More than 4,000 European companies currently operate in Kazakhstan. Our 2022 Memorandum of Strategic Partnership with the EU on critical raw materials, batteries and renewable hydrogen has strengthened the economic pillar of the EPCA. The joint Roadmap for 2025-2026 now sets clear priorities – from geological exploration to the development of value chains and green hydrogen.
The task now is to transform this solid foundation into practical results.
Transforming shared challenges into shared strengths
The first step is to jointly focus on a selected number of high-impact projects. Expanding cooperation in key areas such as copper, manganese, titanium, rare earths and other essential minerals would help create a more diverse supply base for Europe and provide investors with a clearer long-term perspective.
Building resilience also means moving beyond raw materials alone. Europe's processing and refining ambitions will require reliable partners with both capacity and geographical reach. Kazakhstan has the resources to support this shift, and expanding cooperation in selected processing areas would contribute to a more diverse and predictable supply base for Europe.
Transport and logistics are also important. Critical raw materials need sustainable and secure routes, and the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route – known as the Middle Corridor – has already become an important link between Central Asia and Europe.
With commitments exceeding €10 billion from the European Commission and international financial institutions, this route is becoming more efficient and reducing transit times. Continued investment in infrastructure, rail capacity and digital systems will further strengthen this corridor and help reduce risks in European clean energy supply chains.
Innovation and knowledge must go hand in hand. Secure supply chains depend on technology and expertise, not just raw materials. Kazakhstan already participates in Horizon Europe and Erasmus+ programmes, and with the expected easing of visa requirements for Kazakh citizens in the near future, deeper cooperation in geological exploration, battery recycling, sustainable mining and green hydrogen could support Europe's climate goals while accelerating Kazakhstan's industrial modernisation.
On the occasion of the 10th anniversary of the Enhanced Partnership and Cooperation Agreement, the direction is clear: Kazakhstan and the EU share a long-term interest in stable, resilient and predictable supply chains that support economic growth and provide the technologies needed for a cleaner future.
The past decade has shown what this partnership can achieve. The next decade must be defined by implementation: strategic projects, stronger value chains, modernised infrastructure and deeper technological cooperation.
The transformation of Europe will ultimately depend on securing the raw materials that are the basis of future industries. With the right decisions, both sides can build a stronger and more resilient partnership. Kazakhstan is ready to work with the European Union to turn common challenges into common strengths.
Yermek Kosherbayev, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan
English 
Czech 
Spanish 
French 
Italian 
Russian 
Chinese 
German