A group of 22 European parliamentarians issued a declaration praising Kazakhstan’s democratic reforms and encouraging deeper cooperation with the Council of Europe.

STRASBOURG, France – A cross-party group of 22 parliamentarians from across Europe has issued a formal written declaration recognizing and encouraging Kazakhstan’s ongoing political, legal, and civil reforms. The declaration, adopted on May 14 under the Council of Europe’s Parliamentary Assembly (PACE), frames Kazakhstan as a committed regional partner advancing democratic governance, human rights protections, and the rule of law.

Titled “Kazakhstan: the way forward – democracy, respect for Human Rights and the Rule of Law,” the declaration commends the Central Asian nation’s progress in multiple areas, including anti-corruption, civic empowerment, gender-based violence prevention, and ethnic cohesion. Signatories include MPs from Poland, Germany, Armenia, Moldova, Türkiye, and other countries, representing diverse political factions such as the European People’s Party (EPP/CD), the Socialists, Democrats, and Greens (S&D), and the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe (ALDE).

The declaration highlights Kazakhstan’s “zero-tolerance policy” towards violence against women and children, as well as the strengthening of its national preventive mechanisms against torture and ill-treatment. It also highlights the country’s initiatives to combat corruption, promote transparency, and foster inclusive development by empowering civil society.

Notably, the Assembly of the People of Kazakhstan is singled out as a model for promoting interethnic harmony and maintaining national unity—key features that, according to the declaration, underpin the country’s stability and social balance.

Kazakhstan’s potential accession to Council of Europe conventions is another focal point of the declaration. The signatories call for continued collaboration with Kazakhstan in line with its national reform agenda and stress the importance of expanding partnerships into new priority areas. Such engagement would further embed Kazakhstan within the broader European institutional architecture while offering new avenues for cooperation.

This latest statement from European lawmakers can be seen as part of a broader strategic realignment of Europe’s engagement with Central Asia. Since 2014, PACE and Kazakhstan have maintained a steady increase in diplomatic and policy dialogue, particularly in areas such as human rights and democratic governance. The written declaration solidifies these gains and signals a strong political will to deepen ties.

However, while the declaration underscores Kazakhstan’s reformist intentions, it also serves as a subtle reminder of accountability. Encouragement from the Council of Europe carries the implicit expectation that Kazakhstan will continue to implement these reforms transparently and make measurable progress.

The declaration concludes with an affirmation of Kazakhstan’s role as a “key partner in the region,” encouraging its ongoing cooperation and alignment with European democratic standards.

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The letter reads:

We, the undersigned, declare the following: Emphasising Kazakhstan’s dedication to democratic reforms and strengthening human rights mechanisms, we underscore the country’s commitments to continue its political and economic modernization aimed at building a just and fair Kazakhstan based on inclusivity, transparency, and the rule of law.

We take note with satisfaction that Kazakhstan has instituted a zero-tolerance policy on violence against women and children, ill-treatment, and corruption while strengthening its national preventive mechanisms against torture. Recognizing the key role of civil society in promoting transparency, accountability, and good governance, we commend Kazakhstan’s commitment to empowering civil society aimed at fostering regional cooperation, good governance, and inclusive development.

We consider Kazakhstan a key partner in the region and encourage further cooperation built on the achievements of interactions since 2014, in particular by encouraging its accession to Council of Europe conventions and initiating cooperation in new priority areas covered by the national reforms’ agenda. We take note of the unique way Kazakhstan promotes inter-ethnic harmony and national unity. The Assembly of the People of Kazakhstan is playing a key role in shaping Kazakhstan’s model of tolerance and maintaining national unity and social balance.

Signed,

Jan Filip Libicki (Poland)
Ondřej Babka (Czechia)
Marianne Binder-Keller (Switzerland)
Klotilda Bushka (Albania)
Andrian Cheptonar (Republic of Moldova)
Paul Galles (Luxembourg)
Armen Gevorgyan (Armenia)
Sona Ghazaryan (Armenia)
Hripsime Grigoryan (Armenia)
Ion Groza (Republic of Moldova)
Andries Gryffroy (Belgium)
Arusyak Julhakyan (Armenia)
Malte Kaufmann (Germany)
Konur Alp Koçak (Türkiye)
Ivana Mádlová (Czechia)
Szabolcs Nagy (Romania)
Cristian-Augustin Niculescu-Țâgârlaș (Romania)
Marko Pavić (Croatia)
Ruben Rubinyan (Armenia)
Robert-Ionatan Sighiartău (Romania)
Vladimir Vardanyan (Armenia)
Birutė Vėsaitė (Lithuania)