Kazakhstan and Europe: Charting a Path to Progress

Conference

Organized by the Institute for Security and Development Policy.

Monday, December 14, 2015, 13.00-17.30

 

On December 21 in Astana, the EU and Kazakhstan are slated to sign an enhanced Partnership and Cooperation Agreement. This development of closer EU-Kazakhstan relations, in a year when Kazakhstan also joined the WTO, takes place as Kazakhstan’s economic and security situation is at a crossroads. Kazakhstan’s region harbors considerable uncertainty, while falling commodity prices have forced the government to adjust its priorities, and spurred fundamental economic reform. Meanwhile, Kazakhstan is planning to host the Expo 2017 in Astana, and is promoting a bid for the 2017 UN Security Council.

The Institute for Security and Development’s Silk Road Studies Program is arranging a conference on “Kazakhstan and Europe: Charting a Path to Progress” in Stockholm on December 14, at the Sheraton Hotel.

Location: Drottningholm Room A, Sheraton Stockholm Hotel. Tegelbacken 6, 101 23 Stockholm. For a map, please follow this link.

To attend: RSVP to Mr. Simone Cappati at scappati@isdp.eu

Conference program:

13.00 – 13.30 Welcome and Introductory Remarks

Dr. Svante Cornell, Director, Institute for Security and Development Policy (confirmed)

H.E. Dr. Dastan Yeleukenov, Ambassador of Kazakhstan (confirmed)

H.E. Mr. Stefan Gullgren, Head of the Department for Eastern Europe and Central Asia, Swedish Ministry for Foreign Affairs (confirmed)

 

13.30-15.15 Panel one: Kazakhstan and International Politics

Kazakhstan 2050: Vision for a New Century
Dr. Dauren Aben, Nazarbayev University (confirmed)

Nuclear Non-Proliferation
Tariq Rauf, SIPRI (confirmed)

Kazakhstan’s Bid for the UNSC
Dr. Johan Engvall, Research Fellow at ISDP and the Swedish Institute of International Affairs (confirmed)

Beyond Oil: Astana Expo 2017 and Green Energy
Dr. Nygmet Ibadildin, Associate Professor, KIMEP University (confirmed)

 

15:15 – 15:45 Coffee Break

 

15:45 – 17:30 Panel Two: Europe and Kazakhstan

Kazakhstan and Europe: Toward a New Partnership
Dr. Michael Emerson, Centre for European Policy Studies (confirmed)

Relations with Europe in Kazakhstan’s Foreign Policy
Dr. Askar Nursha, Project Coordinator, Institute of World Economy and Politics (confirmed)

Kazakhstan: An Island of Stability in a Turbulent Region?
Mr. Vladimir Socor, Senior Fellow, Jamestown Foundation (confirmed)

Advancing Continental Transport: the EU and Kazakhstan
Dr. Svante Cornell, Director, Institute for Security and Development Policy (confirmed)

 

Image credit: Flickr user mariusz kluzniak