Oriented on making people closer

Ambassador of Turkmenistan to Belgium Sapar Palvanov, along with colleagues from Central Asian countries and Mongolia, took part in a meeting with Secretary General of the Benelux Union Frans Wickers and his deputies. During the meeting, the Benelux leadership presented in detail the activities of the Union, spoke about the history of its establishment, institutional mechanisms and practical advantages of close regional coordination. It was emphasized that Benelux is one of the most successful examples of a regional integration association in Europe. Representatives of the Benelux Union expressed deep interest in developing a dialogue with the Central Asian countries, as well as their willingness to share their experience of effective interstate cooperation and established institutional coordination. It was noted that against the background of the current dynamics of strengthening relations between the European Union and Central Asia, such cooperation opens up mutually beneficial prospects for both parties.

The Central Asian ambassadors reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening regional cooperation and stressed that they are ready to act in a more coordinated manner to jointly respond to regional challenges. In this context, the Benelux experience was of particular interest as a potential model for deepening interstate cooperation in Central Asia. During the meeting, the Turkmen Ambassador also discussed with the leadership of the Benelux Union the possibility of simplifying visa procedures, in particular, the abolition of visa requirements for holders of diplomatic and service passports between the Benelux countries and Turkmenistan.

The Ambassador noted that the Central Asian countries, including Turkmenistan, are now actively turning into a platform for holding high-level international events with the participation of representatives of European states and international organizations. At the same time, Turkmenistan is taking an increasingly active part in events held in European countries, including the Benelux countries, sending official delegations. In the first six months of this year alone, 1,945 meetings with foreign partners were held in Turkmenistan, the country received 353 foreign delegations, and 763 Turkmen delegations were sent abroad to participate in international events. These figures are a clear indicator of high international activity and aspiration for open dialogue. In this regard, the development of mechanisms that facilitate freedom of official movement would be an important contribution to strengthening the dialogue and expanding practical cooperation.

The agreement between Turkmenistan and Switzerland, which provides for a simplified travel procedure for holders of diplomatic and service passports, was cited as a successful example of such interaction. Benelux is an economic union comprising three neighboring countries: Belgium (BE), the Netherlands (NE) and Luxembourg (LUX). The Union's name is derived from the first letters of their names. It was established in 1944 as a customs union, making it one of the first and most successful experiments in regional cooperation in post-war Europe. Key features and significance of Benelux: • Pioneers of integration: The Benelux Union became a prototype and "laboratory" for future European integration. Many of the principles and mechanisms developed within the Benelux framework (such as the free movement of goods, services, capital and people) later formed the basis of the European Economic Community and then the European Union. • Economic cooperation: The main goal of the Union is to deepen economic cooperation between the three countries, coordinate policies and remove barriers to trade and investment. • Institutional structure: Benelux has its own institutions, including a Secretariat, Parliament and Court of Justice, which ensure effective cooperation and the resolution of disputes. • "Laboratory of ideas": The Union continues to serve as a platform for testing new initiatives and solutions in various areas - from climate policy to digitalization, which can then be extended to the entire EU. • Relevance today: Despite the membership of all three countries in the EU, Benelux remains relevant as a closer cooperation format, allowing for a faster response to regional challenges and a united voice on a range of issues. The Benelux experience thus demonstrates how even small countries can achieve significant success through close and coordinated cooperation, creating a model for other regions of the world, including Central Asia.

Photo: предоставлено Посольством Туркменистана в Бельгии