The Council of Europe and Kazakhstan have agreed to step up their co-operation, firstly by strengthening Kazakhstan's capacity to sign up to a number of Council of Europe conventions in areas related to criminal law.
Working closely with the authorities in Kazakhstan, and in partnership with the European Union, the Council of Europe's initial aim will be to assess what actions are needed to bring laws and practices in Kazakhstan into line with relevant European standards.
Awareness-raising activities, training courses and study visits will then be arranged with stakeholders in Kazakhstan to help support this process.
This is the first set of Neighbourhood Cooperation Priorities to be agreed with a Central Asian country under the Council of Europe's 2011 policy towards neighbouring regions.
The Council of Europe and Kazakhstan are currently discussing further co-operation in other areas related to human rights, democracy and the rule of law.
Political declaration
"Neighbourhood Cooperation Priorities"