4.2.2016 EN Official Journal of the European Union L 29/7 CONSIDERING the strong links between the Parties and their common values, and their wish to further strengthen and extend links established in the past through the implementation of the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement between the European Communities and their Member States and the Republic of Kazakhstan, signed in Brussels on 23 January 1995, and the European Union — Central Asia Strategy for a New Partnership adopted by the European Council in June 2007 as well as the Republic of Kazakhstan's state programme ‘Path to Europe’ adopted in 2008; CONSIDERING the commitment of the Parties to the full implementation of the principles and provisions of the Charter of the United Nations (‘the UN Charter’), of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), in particular of the Helsinki Final Act, as well as other generally recognised norms of international law; CONSIDERING the strong commitment of the Parties to strengthen the promotion, protection and implementation of fundamental freedoms and human rights, and the respect for democratic principles, the rule of law, and good governance; RECOGNISING the strong adherence of the Parties to the following principles in their cooperation in human rights and democracy: the promotion of shared goals, open and constructive political dialogue, transparency, and respect for inter­ national human rights standards; CONSIDERING the commitment of the Parties to adhere to the principles of a free market economy; RECOGNISING the growing importance of trade and investment relations between the European Union and the Republic of Kazakhstan; CONSIDERING that the Agreement will further strengthen the close economic relationship between the Parties and create a new climate and better conditions for the further development of trade and investment between them, including in the field of energy; CONSIDERING the objective of enhancing trade and investment, in all sectors, on an enhanced legal basis, in particular this Agreement and the Agreement Establishing the World Trade Organisation (‘the WTO Agreement’); CONSIDERING the commitment of the Parties to promote international peace and security and the peaceful settlement of disputes, notably by cooperating in an effective manner to that end within the framework of the UN and the OSCE; CONSIDERING the willingness of the Parties to further develop regular political dialogue on bilateral and international issues of mutual interest; CONSIDERING the commitment of the Parties to international obligations to fight against the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and their means of delivery and to cooperate in the areas of non-proliferation, and nuclear safety and security; CONSIDERING the commitment of the Parties to combat the illicit trade and the accumulation of small arms and light weapons and bearing in mind the adoption of the Arms Trade Treaty (‘the ATT’) by the UN General Assembly; CONSIDERING the importance of the active participation of the Republic of Kazakhstan in the implementation of the European Union — Central Asia Strategy for a New Partnership; CONSIDERING the commitment of the Parties to combat organised crime and trafficking in human beings and to step up cooperation on counter-terrorism; CONSIDERING the commitment of the Parties to step up their dialogue and cooperation on migration-related issues, with a comprehensive approach aiming at cooperation on legal migration and tackling irregular migration and trafficking in human beings, and recognising the importance of the readmission clause of this Agreement; DESIROUS of ensuring balanced conditions in the bilateral trade relations between the European Union and the Republic of Kazakhstan; CONSIDERING the commitment of the Parties to compliance with the rights and obligations arising from the membership of the World Trade Organization (‘the WTO’), and to the transparent and non-discriminatory implemen­ tation of those rights and obligations;