European Union signs aviation agreement with Kazakhstan

The European Union and the Republic of Kazakhstan have today signed a Horizontal Aviation Agreement. The agreement will enhance connectivity between EU and Kazakhstan by allowing any eligible EU airline to operate flights between Kazakhstan and any of the seventeen EU Member States¹ that do not already have bilateral air services agreements with Kazakhstan permitting such services. It replaces previous restrictions in those agreements that limited these routes to airlines owned or controlled by nationals of the respective Member State or Kazakhstan.

By granting all EU airlines equal access to the market, the agreement promotes open and fair competition, creates new opportunities for passengers and businesses, and provides greater legal certainty for both parties.

Apostolos Tzitzikostas, Commissioner for Sustainable Transport and Tourism, said: "I warmly congratulate Kazakhstan on the signing of this agreement with the European Union. This milestone reflects our shared commitment to strengthening cooperation, enhancing connectivity between our regions, and bringing our people and economies closer together. By opening new opportunities for air services, the agreement will support growth, investment, and exchanges on both sides. I look forward to further deepening our aviation partnership and advancing our broader cooperation in the years ahead."

Both the European Union and Kazakhstan will now complete their respective internal procedures, after which the agreement is expected to enter into force in the near future.

Background

The agreement was signed by Commissioner for Sustainable Transport and Tourism Apostolos Tzitzikostas and Kazakh Minister of Transport Nurlan Sauranbayev, in the presence of President Ursula von der Leyen, European Council President Antonio Costa and President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev during the Kazakh President's visit to Brussels.

¹ Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czechia, Germany, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Hungary, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Latvia, Netherlands, Poland, and Sweden have bilateral air services arrangements with Kazakhstan in place and will be covered by this horizontal aviation agreement.