EU–Kazakhstan Roundtable Underscores Strategic Importance of the Middle Corridor
The European Parliament hosted a high-level roundtable on “Strengthening EU–Kazakhstan Connectivity: Perspectives and Strategic Potential of the Middle Corridor” on Nov. 19, highlighting Kazakhstan’s growing role in Europe’s connectivity agenda, strategic autonomy, and green transition. The event brought together Members of the European Parliament (MEPs), diplomats, and regional experts.
Opening the discussion, MEP Ilhan Kyuchyuk, Chair of the Committee on Legal Affairs, emphasized that the Middle Corridor should be viewed not only as transport infrastructure, but as a strategic component of Eurasian cooperation. According to an EU Reporter article published on Nov. 20, he noted the importance of the EU–Kazakhstan Enhanced Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (EPCA) and drew attention to key challenges, including regulatory harmonization, infrastructure investment, and the removal of logistics bottlenecks.
Kazakhstan’s Ambassador to the EU Roman Vassilenko outlined Kazakhstan’s leadership in advancing the corridor, citing major initiatives such as railway modernization, the expansion of the Aktau and Kuryk ports, digitalization of customs procedures, and efforts to align national regulations with international standards. Aigul Kuspan, Member of the Mazhilis, highlighted Kazakhstan’s centrality in Eurasian transit flows. She noted that 85% of East–West overland cargo transits through Kazakhstan and underscored the scale of national investment—more than $35 billion already allocated to transport infrastructure, with 1,700 kilometers of new railway lines currently under construction. Representing the European Commission, Fabienne Van Den Eede linked the Middle Corridor’s development to the EU’s Global Gateway strategy, emphasizing cooperation in climate resilience, digitalization, and sustainable infrastructure.
The roundtable reaffirmed that the Middle Corridor is becoming a key element of the EU’s diversification and resilience strategy, offering a reliable alternative to routes affected by geopolitical uncertainty. With its geography, large-scale investments, and proactive diplomacy, Kazakhstan is strengthening its position as a land-linked transit hub, while EU instruments such as the Global Gateway and the EPCA provide a structured framework for long-term connectivity, regulatory alignment, and green development.
Photo credit: EU Reporter
