ASHGABAT, Turkmenistan, February 27. The
European direction is among the key priorities of Turkmenistan’s
foreign policy for 2026, Turkmen Ambassador to Belgium Sapar
Palvanov said,
Trend reports via the Turkmen Embassy in Brussels.


Ambassador Palvanov made this statement during a meeting with
Jan Dusik, Deputy Director-General of the European Commission’s
Directorate-General for Climate Action.


The discussions emphasized climate and energy as pivotal areas
for bilateral cooperation between Turkmenistan and the European
Union.


Palvanov highlighted Turkmenistan's role as a significant energy
producer and its commitment to environmental protection and
sustainable development. This includes Turkmenistan’s recent
accession to the Global Methane Pledge, announced at COP28, and its
active participation in the Paris Climate Agreement. These
initiatives provide a robust political framework for enhancing
cooperation with the EU on methane emission reduction, climate
adaptation, and environmental modernization.


Further discussions centered on the EU’s “Green Turkmenistan:
Political Dialogue and Climate Action 2024-2028” program, which is
being implemented with European and German support. Ambassador
Palvanov underscored the program’s practical approach and the
tangible outcomes achieved thus far, including the introduction of
emission monitoring mechanisms and efforts to increase
environmental awareness.







The sides agreed on the importance of expanding cooperation
through joint projects, expert exchanges, and the existing
EU-Central Asia regional frameworks. They reaffirmed that climate
policy remains a strategic priority for the EU, with a particular
focus on long-term emission reduction targets and carbon removal
initiatives.


Furthermore, Ambassador Palvanov addressed regional priorities,
including water resource management, climate adaptation, Caspian
Sea level issues, and the exchange of modern environmental
technologies. In this context, he introduced Turkmenistan’s
proposal to establish a Regional Center for Environmental
Technologies in Central Asia.


The prospects for the development of solar energy and
cross-border energy infrastructure were also discussed. The
European side positively assessed Turkmenistan's potential in the
context of growing demand for environmentally friendly
electricity.


The interlocutors confirmed that the strengthening of the
strategic partnership between the EU and Central Asia should be
accompanied by the expansion of specific bilateral cooperation
between Turkmenistan and the European Union.