DUSHANBE, February 12, 2014, Asia-Plus – The Delegation of the European Union to Tajikistan says that Mr. Dirk Meganck, Director for Asia, Central Asia and Pacific, European Commission General Directorate for Cooperation and Development led a mission in Dushanbe from February10-13 to review development cooperation between the EU and Tajikistan and confirm priorities for enhanced EU cooperation with Tajikistan in the next multi-annual financial framework from 2014 to 2020.
Director Meganck, accompanied by Mr. Mario Ronconi (EC General Directorate for Cooperation and Development – DEVCO), Ms. Carine Villemagne-Cros (DEVCO) as well as Mr. Luc Veron (European External Action Service – EEAS) and Mr. Piotr Byczkowski (EEAS) and the representatives of the EU Delegation to Tajikistan reportedly had the opportunity to meet high-ranking government officials, including Mr. Davlatali Saidov, First Deputy Prime Minister, EU Strategy National Coordinator; Mr. Sirojiddin Aslov, Minister of Foreign Affairs; Mr. Nouriddin Saidov, Minister of Education; Mr. Abdusalom Qurbonov, Minister of Finance; Mr. Nusratullo Salimov, Minister of Health and Social Protection; Mr. Qosim Rohbar, Minister of Agriculture; Mr. Umed Davlatzod, Deputy Minister of Economic Development and Trade.
They also exchanged views with the representatives of international organizations accredited to and civil society organizations working in Tajikistan.
The EU delegation emphasized the progress in cooperation under the new cooperation framework. Director Meganck confirmed the EU”s continuing support to Tajikistan in its reform process and efforts to improve social-economic conditions for the population. He recalled the importance the EU attaches to rule of law, governance, fight against corruption. He also highlighted the need to enhance regional cooperation especially due to ongoing environmental and energy problems as well as stemming from the upcoming drawdown of ISAF forces from Afghanistan.
The EU in close cooperation with the Tajik government is currently planning the 2014-2020 bilateral development assistance. A fact-finding mission to Tajikistan took place in February 2013. Since then further reflection and verification of lessons learned has taken place. The discussions led to the identification of three sectors in which the EU will provide bilateral support: Health, Education and Rural Development. The indicative funding available for bilateral cooperation might be up to 250 M€ where the focus is on Tajikistan”s higher needs – a significant increase in the 2014-2020 period.
The European Union is the world’s biggest aid donor. Tajikistan got the main share of bilateral assistance in the Central Asian region (€66 million for 2007-2010 and 62 million for 2011-2013) in support to sector programs, technical assistance and grants. It focused on social protection, health and private sector development, underpinned by public finance management. Tajikistan also receives regional and thematic assistance in areas like border management and drug control (BOMCA/CADAP), education (TEMPUS, Erasmus Mundus), water / environment, migration, human rights and democracy (EIDHR), non-State actors (NSA) and SME development (CA-Invest). The EU is active in Tajikistan since 1992 and provides approximately EUR 25 million annually in development assistance.
