MNU Discusses Kazakhstan’s Prospects for Joining International Conventions

Maqsut Narikbayev University hosted a roundtable discussion on Kazakhstan’s prospects for acceding to key international agreements. Participants examined the potential adoption of two Hague Conventions.

The discussion brought together leading national and international experts, who exchanged views on the ratification prospects of the 2005 Hague Convention on Choice of Court Agreements and the 2019 Hague Convention on the Recognition and Enforcement of Foreign Judgments in Civil or Commercial Matters. These conventions play a critical role in harmonising rules for cross-border justice and promoting the development of international trade.

The event was co-organised with the OSCE Programme Office, the German Foundation for International Legal Cooperation, and the Judicial Administration of the Republic of Kazakhstan. Experts shared their experience and stressed that ratifying these agreements would significantly simplify the process of recognising court decisions abroad, reducing the associated costs and timeframes. They also highlighted that this step would strengthen trust in the national judiciary, enhance the country’s investment appeal, and establish a unified legal framework similar to the New York Convention on arbitration but applicable to court judgments.

“These conventions are applied relatively rarely in Germany, but I believe that events like this are crucial for raising awareness of these conventions and understanding how essential they are,” said Larisa Viklenko, Project Manager at the German Foundation for International Legal Cooperation.

Experts also emphasised the importance of supporting small and medium enterprises, for whom the enforcement of debts and protection of rights abroad would be simplified. Particular attention was given to analysing the practices of foreign jurisdictions to develop effective approaches to the recognition and enforcement of foreign court decisions. It is noteworthy that MNU serves as the official representative of the Hague Conference in Kazakhstan.