OREANDA-NEWS. March 13, 2008. Nurlan Iskakov, Kazakhstan’s Environment Minister, met a delegation of the European Commission headed by Adriaan van der Meer, Head of the EC delegation to Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan. The talks focused on cooperation between Kazakhstan and the EU in environment protection.

The Kazakh Environment Minister confirmed his nation’s readiness to host the pan-European Conference of Environment Ministers. He also briefed the delegation on the 6th conference of Environment Ministers of the Asia-Pacific Region to be held in Kazakhstan in 2010. Kazakhstan intends to put forward some initiatives relating to Asia Pacific development as well as those of global significance. Pursuant to President N. Nazarbayev’s suggestion, Kazakhstan will field itself as a candidate to host the 3rd Summit on Sustainable Development.

Anne BURRILL, Deputy Head of Unit with the International Affairs Directorate at the EU Environment DG, informed that the EU intends to expand environment cooperation with Kazakhstan both at the national and regional levels.

At the same time, representatives of the EU Environment Directorate General pointed to the dynamic development of Kazakhstan and to the recent achievements in promoting sustainable development. In this context, the European Commission suggested that Kazakhstan hold a region-scaled conference on environmental issues of Central Asia.

The sides discussed vectors of cooperation between the EU and Kazakhstan in the realm of environment protection. The Kazakh Minister briefed that Kazakhstan intends to elaborate a “Path to Europe” Program outlined in the latest presidential address to the nation. In this context, Kazakhstan needs the EU’s support in developing renewable energy sources in line with the EU standards, constructing a solar center, and introducing environment taxes based on the German model.

In the course of the meeting the sides dwelt on the work of the Regional Environmental Centre for Central Asia (CAREC). The Kazakh side pointed to the importance of the organization’s work both to Kazakhstan and the region.

Adriaan van der Meer said that the governments of Germany, Norway and Netherlands intend to join the ranks of the CAREC founders and expressed hope for Kazakhstan’s support.