BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 15. Turkmenistan and
the European Union have discussed expanding cooperation in trade,
transport, energy and environmental protection.


This was reflected in a statement published by the Turkmen MFA
following a meeting between Foreign Minister Rashid Meredov and the
EU Special Representative for Central Asia, Eduards Stiprais.


According to the Ministry, in the course of the meeting, the
sides exchanged views on the current state of Turkmenistan-EU
cooperation and its further development, taking into account their
mutual interests and existing potential.


Particular attention was paid to strengthening political and
diplomatic engagement, expanding contacts through existing
bilateral and regional mechanisms, and developing trade and
economic ties.


Meredov and Stiprais also discussed prospects for cooperation in
transport, energy, environmental protection and professional
training.







The parties emphasized the importance of consistently developing
the partnership between Turkmenistan and the EU through
constructive dialogue and mutual respect. They also confirmed their
interest in maintaining regular contacts and further strengthening
cooperation in areas of mutual interest.


Meanwhile, relations between Turkmenistan and the European Union
are currently governed by an Interim Agreement on Trade and
Trade-related Matters, which entered into force in 2010. A broader
Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (PCA), signed in 1998, has
not yet been fully ratified by the European Parliament, making
Turkmenistan the only Central Asian country without a fully
implemented partnership agreement with the EU.


In recent years, cooperation has increasingly focused on
transport connectivity, trade facilitation, energy, education,
climate policy, and economic diversification. The EU's engagement
with Turkmenistan is carried out within the framework of the 2019
EU Strategy for Central Asia and the Global Gateway initiative. The
EU has allocated €18 million for bilateral cooperation with
Turkmenistan under its 2021-2027 programme.


Transport and logistics have become one of the key areas of
cooperation. Brussels views Turkmenistan as an important
participant in the Trans-Caspian Transport Corridor connecting
Central Asia and Europe. In March 2025, EU Commissioner for
International Partnerships Jozef Síkela visited Ashgabat and
reaffirmed EU support for the corridor's development as part of the
Global Gateway strategy.