Verbatim report of proceedings

Monday, 11 December 2017 - Strasbourg

EU-Kazakhstan Enhanced Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (Resolution) - EU-Kazakhstan Enhanced Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (Consent) (debate)

  Laima Liucija Andrikienė (PPE). – Mr President, Commissioner, colleagues, this agreement shows our commitment to help Kazakhstan to exploit in full scale the possibilities offered by the Enhanced Partnership and Cooperation Agreement. It will boost our bilateral trade and support businesses, all in line with fundamental WTO rules and principles.

However, there is still a series of concerns as regards political reforms and real progress with respect for human rights, the rule of law, good governance and democratisation. Continued restriction of media, freedom of expression and belief, criminal prosecution and imprisonment of independent activists and political opposition leaders by the Kazak authorities are not in line with our principles and shall be subject to scrutiny. Therefore, we urge Kazakhstan to resolve these negative trends.

Finally, the implementation of the EPCA should be subject to effective monitoring, strictly applying the principle: more for more and less and for less.