Motion for a resolution | Doc. 13447 | 20 March 2014
Parliamentary co-operation with Kazakhstan
Kazakhstan is a member State of the European Commission for Democracy through Law (Venice Commission) and has signed several Council of Europe conventions. This closer co-operation is to be welcomed as an important step in the aim of the Council of Europe to promote democracy, the rule of law and respect of human rights also beyond its borders, in particular in neighbouring countries.
The Parliament of Kazakhstan has signed a co-operation agreement with the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe in 2004 and sends parliamentary delegations to its sessions. Kazakhstan is the only country with such a co-operation agreement. No other co-operation agreements have been signed since, because this form of co-operation has de facto been replaced by the “Partner for democracy” status. Assembly Resolution 1680 (2009) indicates that Kazakhstan would in principle be eligible to request this status.
Kazakhstan is one of the pillars of stability in the Euro-Asian region, as stated in Assembly Resolution 1526 (2006) on the situation in Kazakhstan and its relations with the Council of Europe. Therefore, the Parliamentary Assembly should intensify its co-operation with the Parliament of Kazakhstan and seek to identify operational projects for increased mutual co-operation with the Council of Europe.