Turkmenistan calls on the Benelux countries to consider introducing a mutual visa waiver regime for holders of diplomatic and service passports against the backdrop of dynamically developing cooperation between the EU and Turkmenistan. This was discussed at a meeting between the Ambassador of Turkmenistan to Belgium, Sapar Palvanov, and the Secretary-General of the Benelux Union, Ms. Ariadne Petridis.
According to the Embassy of Turkmenistan, during the meeting Ambassador Palvanov drew attention to the fact that expanding cooperation, increasing the number of dialogue formats, political consultations, expert meetings, and other joint events have naturally led to a significant growth in mutual visits and official contacts.
In this regard, the head of the Turkmen diplomatic mission emphasized the timeliness and expediency of considering joint work with the Benelux countries on the mutual exemption of diplomatic and service passport holders from visa requirements.
Such a step could serve as a practical mechanism to facilitate the growing intensity of official contacts, contribute to the further development of political dialogue, the organization of high-level visits, and the strengthening of institutional cooperation.
The Secretary-General provided information on the existing practice of the Benelux Union in this area and expressed readiness to facilitate further dialogue in this direction within the competence of the General Secretariat.
A separate topic of discussion was the potential for exchanging experience between the Benelux Union and the countries of Central Asia in the field of regional cooperation and institutional interaction.
The Turkmen side noted the relevance of Benelux’s long-standing experience in inter-state coordination, the functioning of permanent regional mechanisms, and the development of joint approaches across various sectors.
The Secretary-General expressed readiness to share the Benelux experience, noting that today cooperation between Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg encompasses a wide range of areas, including security and resilience, energy, climate and sustainable development, as well as the internal market and economic cooperation.
During the meeting, the Ambassador also informed the Secretary-General about the preparations for a major international equestrian event to be held on 4–6 September 2026 at the Peelbergen Equestrian Centre in Kronenberg, the Netherlands, featuring representatives of Turkmenistan and international guests. Sapar Palvanov invited representatives of the General Secretariat of the Benelux Union to visit the upcoming event.
Benelux is a political, economic, and customs union in Western Europe comprising three countries: Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg. The treaty establishing the union was signed in 1944 to enable the free movement of persons, goods, capital, and services among the member states. The Benelux experience subsequently helped pave the way for the creation of the European Union. /// nCa, 12 August 2026