On 21 January 2026, Turkmenistan’s Foreign Minister Rashid Meredov and Speaker of the Mejlis Ms. Dunyagozel Gulmanova held separate meetings with the European Union’s Special Representative for Central Asia, Eduards Stiprais, who is in Ashgabat to take part in events during the United Nations Special Programme for the Economies of Central Asia (SPECA) Week.
According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan, in discussions with Foreign Minister Meredov the parties reviewed the current state and future prospects of cooperation between Turkmenistan and the European Union in areas of mutual interest.
Both sides expressed keen interest in expanding political and diplomatic dialogue and strengthening the contractual and legal framework of their partnership. In this regard, they discussed possibilities for arranging high-level and top-level meetings and visits during the course of 2026.
The diplomats also held an exchange of views on advancing cooperation in the transport sector and on developing partnerships in the field of vocational and professional education.
Meeting at the Mejlis of Turkmenistan
In a separate meeting at the Mejlis, Speaker Dunyagozel Gulmanova briefed EU Special Representative Eduards Stiprais on the priority directions of Turkmenistan’s domestic and foreign policy as well as the activities of the national parliament. She underlined that building mutually beneficial cooperation with international organisations, including the European Union, remains one of the key vectors of Turkmenistan’s foreign policy.
Particular emphasis was placed on continuing and intensifying engagement with the EU in new priority areas, including security, improvement of the legal system, protection of human rights and freedoms, gender equality, environmental protection and combating climate change, digitalisation, rational use of water resources.
The sides highlighted the significance of the agreements reached between Turkmenistan and the European Union in recent years. They stressed the importance of exchanging experience in legislative work and parliamentary practice, as well as the value of inter-parliamentary meetings and joint seminars.
Special attention was devoted to activities conducted within the framework of inter-parliamentary cooperation between the EU and Turkmenistan. Both sides agreed that holding regular sessions of the “European Union – Turkmenistan” inter-parliamentary dialogue would further encourage the mutual exchange of experience and the strengthening of partnership ties.
At the conclusion of the meetings, the parties reaffirmed their readiness to continue supporting and developing cooperation between Turkmenistan and the European Union, including through the instruments of parliamentary diplomacy. ///nCa, 21 January 2026