Bilateral relations of Tajikistan with the European Union
Diplomatic relations between the Republic of Tajikistan and the European Union began in 1992 and intensified with the opening of the Permanent Mission of the Republic of Tajikistan to the European Union in 2001 and the Delegation of the European Commission (the Delegation of the European Union since 2009) in 2004.
Relations of the Republic of Tajikistan with the European Union are based on two strategic documents: 1. The Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (PCA) between the Republic of Tajikistan and the European Union, which was signed in 2004 and entered into force in January 2010, regulates relations between Tajikistan and the European Union at the bilateral level; 2. The new European Union Strategy in Central Asia, adopted in 2019, regulates relations of the Union with the Central Asian countries; 3. The Joint Roadmap for Deepening Ties between Central Asia and the EU, adopted in 2023, aims to intensify fruitful interregional cooperation in the areas of policy and security, economy and trade, energy and connectivity, as well as people to people exchanges.
In order to improve the quality and level of bilateral ties, in 2019 Tajikistan proposed to the European side to jointly update and improve the legal framework of the multifaceted bilateral ties. With this aim, in February 2023, the parties officially launched the negotiation process on the new Enhanced Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (EPCA) in Dushanbe.
The European Union in the framework of Multi-year indicative program for the Republic of Tajikistan, which is adopted with a special budget for certain years,contributes to the development ofdifferent sectors in Tajikistan, including education, health, rural development, energy, environmental protection and water resources, border control, combating drug trafficking and crime, ensuring the rule of law, transport and communications, etc.
The Meeting of the Heads of State of Central Asia and the President of the European Council is a new instrument, within the framework of which sessions are organized since 2023. During these meetings, issues of economic cooperation, food and regional security, agriculture, transport and logistics, energy, cooperation in the field of "green energy" and other issues of mutual interest are discussed.
The Cooperation Council between the Republic of Tajikistan and the European Union is a main bilateral mechanism that in its sessions key areas of Tajikistan's cooperation with the European Union in political, security, economic, humanitarian, human rights, international and regional issues are discussed. The 10th meeting of the Cooperation Council was held under the co-chairmanship of the foreign affairs ministers of Tajikistan and Sweden in Luxembourg in June 2023.
The meetings of the Cooperation Committee and Subcommittee on Development Cooperation, the Human Rights Dialogue, and the Committee for Inter-Parliamentary Cooperation between the Republic of Tajikistan and the European Union are held annually. In these meetings, the development of cooperation in the socio-economic spheres, energy, environment, water, the rule of law, human rights and the process of Tajikistan's accession to the European Union's Generalized System of Preferences (GSP +) are discussed.
The European Union Strategy for Central Asia, which was adopted in June 2019, defines the EU's multilateral relations with Tajikistan and neighboring countries.
The Meeting of Head of States of Central Asia and President of the European Council, Foreign Ministers of Central Asia and the European Union, the High-Level Political and Security Dialogue, the Economic Forum and the Civil Society Forum are held regularly in the framework of regional mechanisms.
During the Meeting of Foreign Ministers of Central Asia and the European Union the parties discuss the current state of relations and prospects for strengthening cooperation between Central Asia and Europe in the political, trade, economic, water and energy, security, fight against terrorism and extremism, and the environment, and exchange views on major international and regional issues.
The Economic Forum of Central Asia and the European Union discusses cooperation between the two regions with the private sector involvement in economic and investment issues with a focus on the development of Central Asia.
The Civil Society Forum is held in a free format, with participants discussing a variety of sectoral topics. In particular, representatives of the two regions discuss the role and contribution of civil society in the formation of the state, the importance of an integrated approach to building a sustainable society with a focus on vulnerable groups such as youth, women, and the disabled, and the need to expand cooperation in the implementation of joint projects in the field of digitalization, education and health.
Cooperation between Tajikistan and the European Union in the field of education is carried out in the framework of the Tempus, Erasmus Mundus and Erasmus + programs of the European Union, which promote cooperation between Tajikistan and European universities and the implementation of educational and exchange programs.
Republic of Tajikistan and the European Union also cooperate within the framework of the “Global Gateway” initiative. Digital technologies, energy and climate, transport, health, education and research are the five main areas of European investment under this initiative. Tajikistan participates in high-level events, forums, discussions and meetings dedicated to the “Global Gateway”.
As part of specific inter-regional programs to prevent threats, the European Union has launched a number of regional security projects since 2003 within the framework of the Central Asia Border Management Program (BOMCA) and Central Asia Drug Trafficking Prevention Program (CADAP). Since 2020, the EU is financing “Stabilization of Tajikistan’s southern border region with Afghanistan” project to support the capacity building of Border Troops and Committee of Emergency situations and Civil Defense personnel.
The official visits of the President of the Republic of Tajikistan to the European Union (Brussels) and the High Representatives of the European Union to Tajikistan play an important role in the development of bilateral relations.
17.03.2025
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