Partnership and trade agreement EC/Kazakhstan

Adopting the report by Mr Raymond CHESA (UPE, F) on the economic and commercial aspects of the partnership agreement between the European Union and Kazakhstan, the European Parliament welcomed the objectives of the agreement, which goes beyond economic and commercial cooperation and advocates political dialogue, the consolidation of democracy and respect for human rights. Approving all the provisions of the agreement, the European Parliament welcomed in particular the implementation of multi-faceted cooperation between the European Union and Kazakhstan, especially the provisions dealing with: - the development of tourism and cultural relations; - environmental protection; - regional development; - the development of cross-border services between the European Union and Kazakhstan and the development in Kazakhstan if a market economy services sector; - increased cooperation with regard to training for students and managers; - cooperation with regard to capital transactions relating to direct investments in this country (and the repatriation of the return on these investments); - cooperation in space. Given that the partnership agreement is only the starting point for more fruitful cooperation in the future, the European Parliament calls for it to be reviewed and amended in ten years, taking account of the operation of the WTO and the development of regional relations within the CIS and central Asia.�