Cooperation with the European Union is one of Turkmenistan's foreign policy priorities, stated Deputy Foreign Minister Mahri Bashimova.

"Interaction with the European Union is one of our country's foreign policy priorities. Cooperation between Turkmenistan and the European Union is based on the principles of mutual respect, equality, and shared interests and covers a wide range of areas," she said during a briefing on cooperation between Turkmenistan and the EU.

According to Bashimova, the partnership is underpinned by a clear legal and political framework. Key documents include the 2019 EU Strategy for Central Asia, developed in close consultation with the countries of the region, and a joint roadmap for deepening ties between the EU and Central Asia, adopted at the ministerial meeting on 23 October 2023. Turkmenistan and the EU maintain a high-level political dialogue, including high-level contacts. Cooperation takes place both bilaterally, in the Turkmenistan-EU format, and in the interregional Central Asia-European Union format.

The Deputy Minister noted that approximately 30 bilateral and regional projects are currently being implemented in areas such as environmental protection, adaptation to climate change, energy efficiency, digitalization and internet development, cybersecurity, transport connectivity, economic development and private sector support, countering drug trafficking and terrorism, developing a circular economy, and supporting women entrepreneurs and youth.

Speaking about plans for 2026, Bashimova outlined a number of already scheduled events. In March, the next interparliamentary dialogue between the Mejlis of Turkmenistan and the European Parliament will take place, as well as the next round of the Human Rights Dialogue in Ashgabat.

The fifth high-level meeting under the DARYA project is scheduled for October. Also on the agenda are a meeting of the EU-Turkmenistan Joint Committee in Brussels, a high-level dialogue on EU security policy in Central Asia, a meeting of special representatives for Afghanistan, the next EU-Central Asia ministerial meeting, and European Culture Week in Turkmenistan.