1Council Decision (EU) 2025/1579 of 18 July 2025 authorising the opening of negotiations with the Republic of Kazakhstan for an agreement on readmission

Council Decision (EU) 2025/1579 of 18 July 2025 authorising the opening of negotiations with the Republic of Kazakhstan for an agreement on readmission THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and in particular Article 79(3), in conjunction with Article 218(3) and (4) thereof, Having regard to the recommendation from the European Commission, Whereas: (1) Negotiations should be opened with a view to concluding an agreement on readmission with the Republic of Kazakhstan (the Agreement). (2) The Commission should ensure that the Agreement is consistent with relevant Union law and policies, including the Union’s commitments under other relevant multilateral agreements. (3) Preparations for the negotiations should be conducted well in advance. To that end, the Commission should inform the Council, as early as possible, of the anticipated schedule of the negotiations and of the issues to be negotiated, and consult the Council where necessary. The Commission should also inform the Council of the outcome of each negotiating session. (4) In order to respond best to the interests of the Union’s policy on readmission, the authorisation to negotiate should be limited in time, with the possibility of an extension of the period of validity of this Decision. Before the expiry of the period of validity of this Decision, the Council should assess, on the basis of a recommendation from the Commission, whether it is in the Union’s interest to continue the negotiations, taking into account the progress of the negotiations as well as the overall relations between the Union and its Member States and Republic of Kazakhstan. The period of validity of this Decision can be extended under the same procedure. Such time-limited authorisation with the possibility of an extension is not to have the impact of restricting the power of the Union negotiator in its negotiations with the Republic of Kazakhstan. (5) In accordance with Article 3 of Protocol No 21 on the position of the United Kingdom and Ireland in respect of the Area of Freedom, Security and Justice, annexed to the Treaty on European Union and to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, Ireland has notified, by a letter of 16 June 2025, its wish to take part in the adoption and application of this Decision. (6) In accordance with Articles 1 and 2 of Protocol No 22 on the position of Denmark, annexed to the Treaty on European Union and to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, Denmark is not taking part in the adoption of this Decision and is not bound by it or subject to its application, HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

Article 1

1. The Commission is hereby authorised to open negotiations for an agreement on readmission with the Republic of Kazakhstan.
2. The negotiations shall be conducted on the basis of the negotiating directives of the Council set out in the addendum to this Decision.

Article 2

1. The negotiations shall be conducted in consultation with the Working Party on Integration, Migration and Expulsion, which is the special committee designated by the Council in accordance with Article 218(4) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union.

1. The Commission shall regularly report to the special committee referred to in paragraph 1 on the steps undertaken pursuant to this Decision, and consult it on a regular basis.
2. Whenever so requested by the Council, the Commission shall report to the Council on the conduct and the outcome of the negotiations.

Article 3

1. This Decision shall be valid for a period of five years from the date of its adoption.
2. At the latest six months before the end of the period referred to in paragraph 1, the Commission may present to the Council a recommendation to extend that period. The Council shall assess the situation on the basis of that recommendation and may decide to extend the period of validity after carrying out an assessment that takes into account the progress of the negotiations as well as the overall relations between the Union and its Member States and Republic of Kazakhstan.

Article 4

This Decision is addressed to the Commission. Done at Brussels, 18 July 2025. For the Council The President M. Bjerre