On Tuesday November 20, Ambassador Marilyn Josefson presented her credentials to Tajik President Emomali Rahmon. Ambassador Josefson has now officially commenced her duties as the Head of the European Union Delegation to the Republic of Tajikistan.
During the ceremony, President Rahmon expressed appreciation for the longstanding fruitful cooperation between Tajikistan and the European Union and looked optimistically towards further strengthening relations around a wide range of areas of mutual interest, concern and benefit, according to the European Union Delegation to Tajikistan.
Ambassador Josefson reportedly conveyed the European Union's congratulations on the important achievement of completing the first milestone in the construction of the Roghun hydroelectric power plant.
She also stressed her commitment to promote closer connectivity between the European Union and Tajikistan, and to actively work towards deepening and broadening already comprehensive relations. “A fruitful cooperation between the EU and Tajikistan is in fact not only desirable, but also essential. We share many common pressing issues. I'm talking of things like peace and security, climate change, sustainable water and energy management, innovation and technology advancement, equal and sustainable development and challenges to the rules-based international order, rule of law and human rights. We both have invaluable contributions to make in this regard. By continuing to work closely together, bilaterally, regionally and in international fora around a broad thematic agenda –we allow for the enhanced prosperity, safety and resilience of our people and societies.”
“The EU-Tajikistan Cooperation Council and the EU-Central Asia Ministerial Meeting that will take pace in Brussels later this week will be an important occasion to continue to jointly elaborate on how to further strengthen our cooperation in these areas.”
Ms. Josefson previously has worked for the Permanent Mission of Sweden to the European Union in Brussels, as well as gained previous professional experience in the European External Action Service and the United Nations.
The European Union, composed of 28 Member States, is the world’s largest aid donor. Tajikistan receives the main share of EU's bilateral assistance to Central Asia: €251 million for 2014-2020. During this period, the development cooperation between the EU and Tajikistan covers three key sectors: education – focusing on secondary general education and TVET, health – focusing on Primary Healthcare and Health Financing, and rural development – including support to agrarian reform, rural entrepreneurship, irrigation and water sector reform, as well as promoting natural resources management. The EU also supports reforms of the country's governance systems, trade policies and Public Finance Management.
Tajikistan also receives regional and thematic assistance in areas like border management, drug control, education, democracy and human rights, non-State actors, energy, transport, SME development, peace and stability, and water/environment/nuclear safety. The EU has been active in Tajikistan since 1992 and provides approximately EUR 35 million annually in development assistance in grants.
