On 17 February 2026, the European Union Delegation to Turkmenistan and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan held a joint press briefing to review the results of EU -Turkmenistan cooperation in 2025 and to outline strategic priorities for 2026. The event brought together representatives of national and international media, Turkmen state institutions, Ambassadors of the EU Member States, civil society organisations, and implementing partners of EU-funded projects, reflecting the strength and growing depth of the partnership.
Ambassador of the European Union to Turkmenistan, Beata Peksa, expressed her appreciation to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, line ministries, and EU project partners for their close and constructive cooperation throughout 2025. She underlined that the year delivered tangible results across priority sectors including connectivity, green transition, trade, education, health, environment, and cultural exchange.
She highlighted the strengthened political dialogue, marked by high-level visits and engagements, including visits of HR/VP Kaja Kallas and Commissioner Josef Síkela, the participation of Turkmenistan in the first EU–Central Asia Summit, and the 20th EU–Central Asia Ministerial Meeting, which was organised in Ashgabat. She also recalled the successful holding of the 17th EU–Turkmenistan Human Rights Dialogue in Brussels, confirming the EU’s continued commitment to constructive engagement on human rights, gender equality, labour rights, and the rule of law.
Ambassador Peksa highlighted the EU’s key achievements in 2025 and ongoing priorities. On connectivity, she underlined support for the Trans-Caspian Transport Corridor, including technical assistance, and preparations for the upcoming EU–Turkmenistan Business Forum. In green transition and climate action, she noted progress under the “EU for a Green Turkmenistan” project, methane emission reduction, renewable energy education partnerships, and regional cooperation under the Team Europe Water-Energy-Climate initiative. She also highlighted growing collaboration on critical raw materials through Turkmenistan’s endorsement of the EU–Central Asia CRM Declaration and engagement with the Global Gateway. Key results were reported in trade, economic cooperation, education, health, labour rights, border management, drug prevention, circular economy, civil society support, biodiversity protection, and cultural heritage preservation, alongside extensive public diplomacy, including European Culture Week and Europe’s Day celebrations, cultural events, and media literacy initiatives.
Deputy Foreign Minister, Myahri Byashimova welcomed the EU’s continued engagement and highlighted the impact of EU-funded initiatives on Turkmenistan’s socio-economic development. She emphasized cooperation in education, including the DARYA Project, noting that the 5th DARYA High-Level Event will be held in Ashgabat in October 2026, back-to-back with the National Educational Conference to bring together regional stakeholders and advance skills development. She also highlighted progress in transport connectivity, green energy, and trade facilitation, and reaffirmed Turkmenistan’s commitment to deepening bilateral and regional cooperation with the EU, including through inter-parliamentary dialogue, people-to-people contacts, joint initiatives aligned with national priorities, and the implementation of the Joint Roadmap for Deepening Ties between the EU and Central Asia adopted at the EU-CA Summit.
Ambassadors of Germany and France in the Team Europe spirit highlighted key aspects of Turkmenistan’s international engagement and cooperation with the EU. Germany’s Ambassador recalled the 11 February 2026 Berlin ministerial meeting with Central Asian foreign ministers, focusing on energy, regional security, transport, industry, and digital technologies, and concluding with the Berlin Ministerial Declaration. France’s Ambassador underlined the success of intercultural projects in 2025, the importance of WTO accession, development of the Trans-Caspian Transport Corridor, digital connectivity, and the need to resume the Erasmus+ programme to strengthen educational cooperation.
Director of the Department of International Organizations, Rovshen Annaberdiyev highlighted also the importance of developing security cooperation, including within the EU-Central Asia High Level Political and Security Dialogue and the consultations of envoys for Afghanistan. He also emphasized the Turkmen side’s satisfaction with the continuation of two flagship projects in the region regarding rule of law and law enforcement: BOMCA and CADAP.
Looking forward, both sides outlined an ambitious agenda for 2026. Key priorities include:
- High-level visits and intensified political dialogue, including planned inter-parliamentary meetings, EU-Central Asia Ministerial Meeting and the next EU–Turkmenistan Human Rights Dialogue to be hosted in Ashgabat and Joint Committee in Brussels;
- The first EU–Turkmenistan Business Forum, to be held in March 2026, strengthening economic ties and private-sector cooperation;
- Continued implementation of Global Gateway initiatives in connectivity, energy, digitalisation, and critical raw materials;
- New phases of regional programmes on border management, drug action, gender equality, and women’s empowerment;
- Expanded cooperation in education, research, and innovation, including opportunities under Horizon Europe and future re-engagement with Erasmus+ once outstanding issues are resolved;
- Ongoing cultural diplomacy, youth engagement, media literacy, and environmental awareness activities.
In closing remarks, both, Deputy Foreign Minister Byashimova and Ambassador Peksa thanked all the ministries, the Office of the Ombudsperson, State, Law and Democracy Institute, international organisations, civil society partners, universities, volunteers, EU Member States, and project teams for their continued cooperation and dedication.
The joint press conference reaffirmed the shared commitment of the European Union and Turkmenistan to deepening their partnership in 2026, guided by dialogue, mutual respect, and a common vision for peace and security, sustainable development, regional stability, and prosperity.