European Kazakhstan Explained

Conventional Long Name:European Kazakhstan
Common Name:European Kazakhstan
Demonym:Kazakh
Largest City:Oral
Area Km2:148,000
Area Sq Mi:57,143
Population Census:~1 million
Population Density Km2:6.7
Population Density Sq Mi:17.5
Sovereignty Type:Region

European Kazakhstan (Kazakh: Europalyq Qazaqstan, Kazakh: Qazaqstannyñ europalyq bölıgı|label=none,) is the western part of the territory of Kazakhstan. It is geographically situated in Europe, as opposed to the country's sparsely populated and vastly larger eastern part, which is situated in Central Asia. The Ural River divides Kazakhstan into two parts, bisecting the Eurasian supercontinent. European Kazakhstan geographically lies in Eastern Europe, with its area of over 148000km2, which makes Kazakhstan the 14th-largest country in Europe with a population of about 1 million. Two capitals of regions are located in European part of Kazakhstan — Uralsk and Atyrau.

Area

European Kazakhstan covers an area of over 148000km2, which puts Kazakhstan in 14th place in terms of territory in Europe (according to the Soviet classification of boundaries between Europe and Asia, 381567km2 and 7th place, respectively). The European part of Kazakhstan is located mainly on the Caspian Depression and the General Syrt upland. On the western and northern sides the territory of the Russian Federation, on the eastern side it is washed by the Ural River, on the south it is washed by the Caspian Sea and a small part of the Volga delta.

Political consequences

See main article: Kazakhstan–European Union relations.

The European Union is Kazakhstan's largest economic partner, accounting for approximately 30% of its total trade, and receiving 41% of Kazakhstan's exports. Kazakhstan is also a major recipient of foreign direct investment from the EU.[1]

The presence of European territory in Kazakhstan is a strong argument in favor of its European status from a geographical point of view and potential membership in the European Union.[2] [3] In 2009, the Ambassador of Kazakhstan to Russia, Adilbek Dzhaksybekov, stated: “We would like to join the European Union in the future, but not as Estonia and Latvia, but as an equal partner.”[4]

Bilateral relations with the European Union are regulated by the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement concluded in 1994.[5] The expansion of Kazakhstan’s partnership and cooperation with the European Union and its member states was ratified in the country’s parliament in March 2016. Kazakhstan is also part of the EU's Central Asia New Partnership Program.[6]

Currently, Kazakhstan is an observer in the Council of Europe, a full member of the European Commission for Democracy through Law (Venice Commission), a member of the European Higher Education Area, the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA), etc.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: EU trade relations with Kazakhstan . 2023-09-17 . policy.trade.ec.europa.eu . en.
  2. Web site: Kazakhstan. 6 January 2024. 25 February 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210225121616/http://www.charlestannock.com/speech.asp?id=1150. dead.
  3. Web site: Verbatim report of proceedings - Thursday, 16 March 2006 . 2023-09-17 . www.europarl.europa.eu . en.
  4. Web site: Казахстан собрался вступить в ЕС . Lenta.RU . 24 April 2009 . ru . 6 January 2024.
  5. http://eeas.europa.eu/factsheets/news/eu-kazakhstan_factsheet_en.htm EU Kazakhstan Factsheet
  6. Web site: Council of EU - Newsroom. newsroom.consilium.europa.eu. 6 January 2024.