DUSHANBE, January 13, 2009, Asia-Plus — The European Commission has proposed that 2009 is the European Year of Creativity and Innovation, according to the European Commission Delegation in Tajikistan.
Both are essential elements for the future success of Europe and its long-term economic competitiveness.
The European Year aims to raise public awareness, spread information and promote public debate on creativity and the capacity for innovation. It should also stimulate research into how to develop creativity and innovative attitudes.
There will be a series of information and promotion campaigns, events and initiatives at European, national, regional and local level, making use of existing EU-level programs.
The new EU Strategy for Central Asia aims to strengthen ties between the European Union and its Central Asian partners. It has doubled European Commission assistance to the region to €750 million for 2007-2013. Tajikistan gets the main share of bilateral assistance (€66 million for 2007-2010) in support to sector programs, technical assistance and grants. It focuses on social protection, health and private sector development, underpinned by public finance management. Projects aimed at enhancing living standards continue. Tajikistan also receives regional and thematic assistance in areas like border management and drug control (BOMCA/CADAP), education (TEMPUS, Erasmus Mundus), water/environment, human rights and democracy (EIDHR), non-State actors (NSA) and SME development (CA-Invest). The total value of EC assistance disbursed to Tajikistan since 1992 is over €500 million.
