• EIB Global and Kazakhstan Housing Company sign accord to promote energy-efficient homes in country.
• Agreement comes in wake of first EU-Central Asia summit. 
• The company will also benefit from technical assistance provided under the joint EIB and GIZ initiative, FELICITY II. 

The European Investment Bank’s development arm (EIB Global) and state-owned Kazakhstan Housing Company JSC are teaming up to increase the number of energy-efficient and sustainable homes in Kazakhstan.

EIB Vice-President Kyriacos Kakouris and Altay Kuzdibayev, chairman of the management board of Kazakhstan Housing Company, signed a memorandum of understanding today in the Kazakh capital Astana for financing to build energy-efficient homes.    

“We will work closely with Kazakhstan Housing Company to explore financing opportunities for housing projects that meet high energy-efficiency standards,” said EIB Vice-President Kakouris. “The agreement reflects a commitment by the European Union and the bank to deepening our strategic partnership with central Asia. Contributing to the sustainable future of the region through initiatives like this one is a high priority for us.”

This new accord is part of an initiative – FELICITY II Cities Advisory Facility – undertaken jointly by the EIB and German development agency Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ). The initiative is supported by the International Climate Initiative (IKI) of the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action of Germany to support low-carbon investments in countries in eastern Europe and central Asia.  

“Improving people’s quality of life and developing a modern, comfortable urban environment are the key priorities of Kazakhstan Housing Company. Signing a memorandum with EIB Global is an important step in the implementation of long-term international cooperation initiatives that are in line with both national priorities and global climate challenges. We are confident that this partnership will contribute to the formation of a new standard of housing and the development of sustainable and energy efficient housing projects in Kazakhstan,” said Kazakhstan Housing Company Management Board Chairman Kuzdibayev.

The memorandum of understanding builds on the first EU-Central Asia summit held in April 2025, when government leaders pledged to strengthen ties between the two regions. During the summit, EIB Global announced plans to expand its strategic investments in sustainable development across central Asia.

GIZ, which was represented at today’s signing event in Astana, , in cooperation with the German Energy Agency (dena) will offer technical assistance to Kazakhstan Housing Company under FELICITY II.

Cooperation between the EIB and Kazakhstan Housing Company creates a real opportunity to accelerate the low-carbon transformation of Kazakhstan’s building sector, which accounts for a third of the country’s energy use,” said GIZ Project Director André Fabian. “It will also stimulate the market for energy-efficient construction and foster the uptake of innovative technologies and services.” The signing took place during the Astana International Forum, an annual conference that promotes global dialogue and attracts leaders of governments, international organisations, businesses and academic institutions. At the Forum, EIB Vice-President Kakouris participated in panel discussions on water security, global trade and climate action.

EIB Global is the EIB Group’s specialised arm devoted to increasing the impact of international partnerships and development finance, and a key partner of Global Gateway. It aims to support €100 billion of investment by the end of 2027 – around one-third of the overall target of this EU initiative. Within Team Europe, EIB Global fosters strong, focused partnerships alongside fellow development finance institutions and civil society. EIB Global brings the EIB Group closer to people, companies and institutions through its offices across the world.

Photos of EIB headquarters for media use are available here

ISLAMABAD — In a move that has sparked intense debate over the intersection of religion and human rights, Pakistan’s Council of Islamic Ideology (CII) has declared a newly passed law criminalizing child marriage in the federal capital as “un-Islamic” has reported Arab News.

The National Assembly unanimously approved the Islamabad Capital Territory Child Marriage Restraint Bill on Friday. The legislation, introduced by Member of the National Assembly (MNA) Sharmila Faruqui, aims to curb widespread underage marriages and protect children—particularly girls—from being thrust into early motherhood and its associated risks.

Once signed into law by the president, the bill will raise the minimum legal age for marriage to 18 for both men and women in Islamabad, replacing a colonial-era law that set the age at 16 for girls and 18 for boys. Under the new provisions, anyone involved in facilitating or coercing child marriages—including family members, clerics, and registrars—could face prison sentences of up to seven years. Additionally, sexual relations involving minors will be considered statutory rape regardless of consent, with adult males found guilty facing up to three years in jail.

However, the Council of Islamic Ideology, a constitutional body tasked with advising the government on whether proposed laws align with Islamic principles, issued a statement following its 243rd session on May 27–28 rejecting key clauses of the bill.

“The bill introduced by Madam Sharmila Faruqui … has been declared un-Islamic,” the CII said in a written statement. It specifically objected to setting a fixed minimum age for marriage and labeling unions under 18 as child abuse and punishable offenses.

The council’s ruling comes amid growing concerns about the prevalence of child marriage in Pakistan. According to a 2018 demographic survey, 29% of girls in the country are married before the age of 18, with 4% wed before turning 15. Boys are also affected, though to a lesser extent—5% marry before 18, according to Girls Not Brides , a global partnership working to end child marriage.

Child rights advocates warn that underage brides often drop out of school, face increased risk of domestic violence, and suffer serious health complications. Early pregnancies are especially dangerous, increasing the likelihood of maternal death, obstetric fistulas, and sexually transmitted infections.

Despite these dangers, cultural norms and economic pressures continue to drive the practice in many communities. Some families see marriage as a way to secure their daughters’ futures or reduce financial burdens, while others cite religious traditions to justify the custom.

Human rights organizations have urged lawmakers not to back down in the face of religious opposition. They argue that protecting children is a moral imperative, and that modern interpretations of Islam must evolve to reflect contemporary understandings of human dignity and development.

The passage of the bill in Islamabad marks a significant step toward addressing the issue at the national level, but its future may now depend on how the federal government responds to the Council of Islamic Ideology’s objections.

As the debate unfolds, the voices of young girls like Shamila and Salma Zameer—monsoon brides photographed in Dadu district’s Khan Muhammad Mallah village in August 2024—serve as a stark reminder of the lives hanging in the balance.

BRUSSELS — The European Union has issued a sharp rebuke of Georgia’s recent adoption of the Foreign Agents Registration Act , calling it a “serious setback for the country’s democracy” and warning that Tbilisi’s European aspirations are now in jeopardy.

In a joint statement released today, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy/Vice-President of the European Commission Kaja Kallas and Commissioner for Equality Marta Kos condemned the legislation, which mirrors similar repressive laws in Russia and other authoritarian regimes.

“Georgia’s Foreign Agents Registration Act marks a serious setback for the country’s democracy,” the statement read. “Alongside recent laws on broadcasting and grants, it represents another aggressive action by the Georgian authorities to suppress dissent, restrict freedoms, and further shrink the space for activists, civil society, and independent media.”

The law, which requires non-governmental organizations (NGOs) receiving foreign funding to register as “foreign agents,” has drawn widespread criticism from international human rights groups, local activists, and diplomatic missions in Georgia.

The European Council had previously expressed concern over Georgia’s democratic backsliding in its June and October 2024 conclusions , noting that such actions jeopardized the country’s path toward European Union membership. Since then, the EU said, accession talks have effectively been put on hold.

“The accession process has been de facto halted,” the EU reiterated in today’s statement. “The EU reiterates its call on the Georgian authorities to heed their citizens’ clear demands for democracy and a European future.”

The statement also urged the release of all unjustly detained journalists, activists, protesters, and political leaders who have faced increasing pressure under the current administration.

The EU made clear that the responsibility for reversing this democratic decline rests solely with the Georgian government.

“The EU is ready to consider the return of Georgia to the EU accession path if the authorities take credible steps to reverse democratic backsliding,” Kallas and Kos stated.

The joint message underscores the bloc’s deepening frustration with Georgia’s trajectory at a time when many of its citizens continue to express strong support for integration with Europe.

As the EU stands firm on its conditionality, the question remains whether Georgia’s leadership will respond to domestic and international calls for reform—or continue down a path that risks isolating the country both politically and economically.

Joint Statement by High Representative/Vice-President Kaja Kallas and Commissioner Marta Kos on Georgia’s Foreign Agents Registration Act

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