A New Stage of Relations between the European Union and Kazakhstan: Europeanization Process
A New Stage of Relations between the European Union and Kazakhstan: Europeanization Process

Summary/Abstract: This paper argues that Kazakhstan and the European Union have entered a new stage marked by two major changes. First, the parties finally signed the Enhanced Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (EPCA). The second change is described through the concept of Europeanization. In 2015 Kazakhstan reordered its policy agenda towards building a more transparent and accountable state. In order to assess this change empirically, we conducted an original content analysis of President Nazarbayev’s speeches. A total 69 speeches from 2010 to 2015 were evaluated. The analysis findings suggest that in 2015 the leadership of the country started paying greater attention to issues such as accountability, rule of law, and transparency, which are considered as core EU values. Kazakhstan’s weak institutional development is regarded as a major barrier in EU-Kazakhstan relations; Europeanization of Kazakhstan’s policies should be viewed as a significant event that will boost bilateral investments, trade,and other aspects of cooperation.

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