BAKU, Azerbaijan, July 24. Turkmenistan and the
European Union have discussed expanding cooperation on migration,
mobility, visa policy and citizen protection.
This was reflected in a press release published by the Embassy
of Turkmenistan in Belgium on June 24 following a meeting between
Ambassador Sapar Palvanov and Johannes Luchner, Deputy
Director-General of the European Commission's Directorate-General
for Migration and Home Affairs (DG HOME).
During the meeting, the sides exchanged views on establishing
direct working contacts between the State Migration Service of
Turkmenistan, DG HOME and the competent authorities of EU member
states to facilitate information exchange, address documentation
and consular issues, and strengthen protection for Turkmen citizens
abroad, the report says.
According to the embassy, the discussions also covered
opportunities to facilitate travel, including Turkmenistan's
ongoing consultations with the Benelux countries on reciprocal visa
exemptions for holders of diplomatic and service passports. The
parties reviewed existing European Union mechanisms aimed at
improving conditions for issuing multiple-entry Schengen visas and
enhancing local consular cooperation.
In addition, the sides discussed implementation of
Turkmenistan's National Action Plan to Combat Trafficking in
Persons for 2025-2029, the report noted. They also reviewed
prospects for expanding cooperation through expert exchanges and
joint initiatives targeting human trafficking, migrant smuggling
and transnational organized crime.
The meeting also addressed preparations for an Enhanced
Partnership and Cooperation Agreement between Turkmenistan and the
European Union. According to the embassy, both sides noted that a
broader legal framework could institutionalize dialogue on
migration, mobility, visa policy and security, while the European
Commission confirmed its readiness to maintain working contacts and
preliminary consultations with the Turkmen side.
The migration dialogue comes as relations between Turkmenistan
and the European Union continue to broaden beyond their traditional
focus on energy and trade. In recent months, the sides have
intensified contacts through sectoral meetings covering transport,
connectivity, customs, education, environmental cooperation and
investment, while Turkmenistan hosted its first EU-Turkmenistan
Business Forum, bringing together European companies and government
officials to discuss new opportunities in logistics, industry and
sustainable development.
Efforts to facilitate mobility have also gained momentum.
Alongside consultations with the Benelux countries on visa
exemptions for diplomatic and service passport holders, Ashgabat
has been pursuing broader engagement with European institutions on
people-to-people contacts and legal mobility. These initiatives
complement negotiations on the Enhanced Partnership and Cooperation
Agreement, which is expected to provide a more comprehensive
framework for cooperation across political, economic and
institutional areas.
