Currently, political relations between the EU and Tajikistan are guided by the bilateral 'Partnership and Cooperation Agreement' and the new EU Strategy on Central Asia “New Opportunities for a Stronger Partnership”, adopted in 2019.  Tajikistan has formally requested to upgrade the current PCA in November 2019 through negotiation of an Enhanced Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (EPCA - following KAZ, KYR, UZB example).  EEAS and TRADE (co-chef de file) are working for launching the Inter Service Consultation (ISC), in view of obtaining a possible negotiating mandate in 2021.

The EU Special Representative for Central Asia, Ambassador Peter Burian, visited Tajikistan in 2019 and emphasised the importance of the bilateral relations. He promised a continuation of EU support, but stressed the need for more social and economic reforms in Tajikistan.

Strategic documents

The Partnership and Cooperation Agreement came into force on 1 January 2010 after ratification by all EU countries. It is contributing to the enhancement of bilateral relations and heightening the EU profile in Tajikistan, as it sets out the parameters for increased political dialogue and cooperation and also aims at promoting bilateral trade and investments.

The new EU Strategy on Central Asia aims to forge a stronger, modern and non-exclusive partnership with the countries of Central Asia so that the region develops as a sustainable, more resilient, prosperous, and closely interconnected economic and political space.

The EU and Central Asian countries have confirmed their commitment to the new EU Strategy towards Central Asia, and strategy implementation is well under way. The Cooperation Council of the EU and Tajikistan holds annual high-level discussions between the EU and Tajikistan.

Closer to the Tajik people

In order to bring the EU closer to the Tajik people, the EU organises European Week each year. This is an opportunity to introduce European cultures to Tajikistan and to outline the work of the EU Delegation. Furthermore, many Tajik students have already been successful in applying for the Erasmus Plus programme, which allows them to study in the EU.

Trade and economic relations between the EU and Tajikistan are governed by the Partnership and Co-operation Agreement (PCA) signed in October 2004 and which came into force on 1 January 2010. The agreement provides for a non-preferential agreement under which the parties grant each other 'most-favoured nation' (MFN) treatment with respect to tariffs whilst quantitative restrictions are prohibited in bilateral trade.

The agreement also envisages progressive regulatory approximation of the national legislation and practices to the most important EU trade-related standards, including technical regulations, sanitary and phytosanitary requirements, protection of intellectual property rights, and customs issues. This should lead to better practical access to the EU markets for goods originating in Tajikistan.

Tajikistan is also a beneficiary of the EU's Generalised System of Preferences (GSP), a bilateral trade arrangement through which the EU provides preferential access to its market to developing countries and territories, in the form of reduced tariffs for their goods when entering the EU market. Preferential imports from Tajikistan are heavily concentrated in two sectors, industrial products such as base metals and textiles.

Tajikistan is the smallest trade partner of the EU in Central Asia. In 2019, the EU exported 169 m€ to Tajikistan and imported 44 m€ (mainly aluminium and textiles), with no significant evolution compared to 2018 and 2017. Tajikistan joined the WTO in 2013 but has so far not substantially benefited from it in terms of trade flows. Tajikistan has recently become committed to join the Special Incentive Arrangement for Sustainable Development and Good Governance (GSP+). GSP+ can act as a positive political and economic signal to the international community and business that the government is binding itself to international law and continuous, transparent monitoring.

Loans and investment

The EU has developed several loan and investment programmes from which Tajikistan has benefited in the past. Tajikistan received its first European Investment Bank (EIB) loan in 2011, and in the same year, the EU and Tajikistan signed the Financing Agreement for a Human Development Support Programme regarding health, social protection and public finance management.

High-level discussion

Economic relations have often been on the agenda of the Cooperation Council of the EU and Tajikistan, which holds annual high-level discussions, at FMs level. These have underlined the importance of economic reforms in Tajikistan and the significant increase in bilateral trade that the EU and Tajikistan have witnessed. The last Cooperation Council took place in Brussels on 10 December 2019.

Civil society in Tajikistan is actively engaged in the preparation of the annual EU –Tajikistan Human Rights Dialogue, which is the main political arena for discussing human rights issues with the Tajik authorities.

The thematic programmes Non-State Actors and Local Authorities in Development Programme (NSA/LA), ongoing since 2007, and Civil Society Organisations and Local Authorities in Development (CSO/LA) programme, implemented by non –state actors and/or local authorities, facilitate a structured dialogue in the area of development between civil society networks and local authorities' associations from the EU and countries that are not members of the EU. Tajikistan receives about €750 000 per year under the CSO/LA programme.

Civil Society Seminars

As part of its engagement with civil society, the EU Delegation discusses important human rights topics with representatives of civil society in Tajikistan. Once a year, the EU organises a Civil Society seminar, discussing a different topic each time.

Freedom of Media was the discussion point of the last Civil Society Dialogue. Comprehensive discussions covered various aspects, including the general situation regarding media freedom, access to information, the concept of information security in Tajikistan, responsible journalism and professional ethics, and the transition to a digital switchover.

Non-profit organisations

In July 2020, the EU Delegation to Tajikistan has published a new call for proposals to support non-profit organisations, such as non-governmental organisations, public sector operators, local authorities or international organisations. Applicants can now seek EU funding for projects in the two prioritised areas - supporting people living with disabilities, and expanding opportunities for youth self-development, employability and increased participation in decision-making processes. The European Union will in this call for proposals allocate a total of 2,909,305 euros. Applicants may request a grant between 200,000 euros and 400,000 euros.

What are the needs?

Tajikistan is prone to various and frequent natural disasters such as floods, landslides, cold waves and earthquakes. In recent years, the raising temperatures due to climate change are exacerbating the impact of climate-related disasters. Floods occur regularly, which can be quite disastrous to some communities at the local level.

Recently, in response to the floods that wreaked havoc across large parts of Tajikistan in mid-May 2020, the EU provided EUR 80,000 in humanitarian aid funding to assist the most vulnerable communities through ICRC. In response to COVID-19, the EU has made available around EUR 2 million (DG DEVCO) for short-term support, while another EUR 46 million (DG DEVCO) will target longer-term needs on the health and socio-economic fronts.