The Ambassador of the European Union to Turkmenistan, Beata Peksa, has addressed ORIENT readers with an exclusive article dedicated to Europe Day. In her message, Beata Peksa reveals the overall meaning of Europe Day as a symbol of peace, unity in diversity, and solidarity, whose soulfulness finds deep understanding in Turkmenistan. The Ambassador emphasizes that the cooperation between the EU and Turkmenistan is based not only on common interests but also on mutual respect and support, as well as on a shared vision of a stable and prosperous region.

Below we publish the full text of the article by the EU Ambassador to Turkmenistan, Beata Peksa.

EUROPE DAY: Celebrating the Spirit of Europe in Turkmenistan

On 9 May, the streets of Europe come alive. Under the blue flags with twelve gold stars flying alongside the national flags, people gather for concerts, festivals, picnics, “Europe Cafes”, run marathons, and simply enjoy the spring blooming all around. “Ode of Joy”, the EU anthem, is played by philharmonic orchestras and street musicians. In Brussels, Strasbourg and Luxemburg, the EU institutions open their doors to the public, inviting thousands to see how their laws are prepared, adopted and translated into all official European Union languages. For everyone this day is a reminder that we are united in our diversity and that united we are stronger, wealthier and more secure.

On this day, 9 May, seventy-six years ago, five years after the end of World War II, the Schuman Declaration was adopted. It was elaborated on the basis of the French foreign minister Robert Schuman’s proposal to establish a joint authority to oversee French and German production of coal and steel, to which also other European countries were invited to. Schuman’s idea was meant to end age-old divisions and make wars between former enemies “unthinkable and materially impossible”.

That was the start of an ambitious and remarkable project, which has shaped the course of European history and redefined Europe's place in the world. Today, that remarkable vision has grown into a Union of 27 nations and nearly 450 citizens, who live in a society where their voice matter and rights are protected.

But this still evolving project of peace, unity, shared values and solidarity is not only focused on our own prosperity and our internal political goals. We know that in the today's interconnected world the prosperity of ones is strongly connected with prosperity of others. And that is why the European Union is engaging with partners all over the world to achieve through our equal cooperation peace, sustainable development and intercultural ties. And we are proud that, as HRVP Kaja Kallas said recently, “Today Europe has much more to offer its partners than ever before. When I go around the globe, I see this wish for Europe everywhere.”

As we celebrate the Europe Day in Ashgabat, we believe that Europe is welcomed also in Turkmenistan. Our cooperation is not only about shared interests. It is about a shared respect and support and a shared vision for a stable and prosperous region and the world.

Therefore, we stand with Turkmenistan for sustainable development and reforms, for connectivity and joint development of corridors linking us, and for business and economic cooperation – as exemplified by the recent successful Business Forum. In 2026 we are deepening our ties through work on green transition, including on methane reduction and sustainable energy, work on connectivity through building, as part of Global Gateway, the Trans-Caspian Transport Corridor linking Central Asia and Europe, and promote human empowerment through our support for higher education and vocational training - to give the next generation the skills they need to succeed.

We stand with Turkmenistan also for security and peace, in Central Asia and beyond, in your challenging environment. While we defend our Union, we do not forget about the rest of the world, and we continue work to prevent conflicts and to promote peace.

The threats and risks of today’s turbulent world are enormous, and they are well seen from Ashgabat. To overcome them, we need the kind of leadership and vision that Europe's fathers, like Robert Schuman, had demonstrated. We also need a steadfast commitment to international law and UN rules, which we share with Turkmenistan and for which we are grateful to the country’s leadership and to all Turkmen citizens.

We hope for further strengthening ties with Turkmenistan. We note the very positive outreach from the Turkmen side and we hope that both: further discussions on new avenues of our relations - including during the expected visit of President Serdar Berdimuhamedov to Brussels, and practical cooperation within bilateral and regional projects, will continue.

On 9 May, Europeans celebrate the courage to choose peace over divisions. Turkmenistan, with its own legacy of neutrality, understands this choice deeply. Let us celebrate another Europe Day, and another year of EU-Turkmenistan partnership.