Currently, political relations between the EU and Tajikistan are guided by the bilateral 'Partnership and Cooperation Agreement' and the 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).  European External Action Service and Directorate General for Trade are working to obtain a mandate to start negotiations for an EPCA in 2022, with the objective to further strengthen the partnership and expand cooperation in new areas.  

The EU Special Representative for Central Asia regularly visits Tajikistan and the region to promote cooperation between the EU and Central Asia on issues of regional importance, in particular connectivity, green energy production, environmental protection and management of natural resources as well as security issues. EUSR Ambassador Terhi Hakala reiterated continued EU support for reforms in Tajikistan and discussed further opportunities for advancing regional cooperation in key areas with the Tajik government during her visit to Tajikistan in September 2021.

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. Currently, the political dialogue is held yearly at the level of ministers (Cooperation Council) and senior officials (Cooperation Committee, Sub-Committee for Development Cooperation). A specific Human Rights dialogue is dedicated to reforms in the area of rights, freedoms and governance.

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.

EU together with other donors are planning on how to support Tajikistan’s capacity to respond to a potential crisis related to developments in Afghanistan.  Contingency planning for reception of Afghan refugees is ongoing under the leadership of the UNHCR.

The EU has already taken concrete steps to respond to Government’s requests and address the imminent risks related to the situation in AFG – 160.000 EUR humanitarian assistance already put to use at the borders (via Red Crescent), new actions under preparation by both the EU and MS in case of a significant refugee flow. In parallel, the EU is mobilising resources within the relevant regional and bilateral programmes to increase the capacity of border guards and other institutions to respond to increased flow of migrants in compliance with international standards and without compromising the national security (BOMCA, LEICA and programmes funded through Instruments for Peace and Stability). In addition, the EU is looking for ways to increase resilience of local and host communities.

The EU-Tajikistan Human Rights Dialogues offer a platform for discussion regarding questions of mutual interest, and serve to enhance cooperation on human rights in multilateral fora such as the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) and the United Nations. Officials from the EU meet their counterparts from Tajikistan's government on a yearly basis to address concerns in the field of human rights. The Human Rights Dialogue is a high-level meeting. The first Dialogue took place in Dushanbe on 31 October 2008.

The European Union and the Republic of Tajikistan held their 12th Human Rights Dialogue by video conference on 11 November 2020. The meeting took place in an atmosphere conducive to quality, open and constructive discussion, which covered the latest developments in a broad range of human-rights related issues, such as political participation, freedom of association, freedom of expression and freedom of religion or belief, as well as prevention and eradication of torture and ill-treatment, and women’s rights.

The EU supports Tajikistan in ensuring full alignment with all OSCE norms and international standards in the field of human rights. There is a need to enhance the rule of law and improve the functioning of the legal system. 

Another form of cooperation in Human Rights is under way in all Central Asian countries, namely the Rule of Law Initiative. In Tajikistan, this Initiative has seen a number of actions including seminars on judicial training and on penal law and study visits to European countries for civil servants and academics. 

The EIDHR

The European Instrument for Democracy and Human Rights (EIDHR) is an important tool for the EU to use to finance and support human rights-related projects in Tajikistan and around the world. In Tajikistan, the EU focuses on encouraging a pluralistic political system while strengthening the role of civil society. Tajikistan receives about €900 000 every two years under this programme. 

With regard to development cooperation a new Country strategy and multi-annual implementation programme were in place for 2014-2020, with an allocated bilateral financial envelope of EUR 231million, equivalent to an average annual budget of EUR 33 million per year and representing over 80% increase, compared to previous financial framework.

The objectives of the specific sector support aimed at:

Education

• Improving quality and relevance of secondary education and Vocational Education and Training (VET), leading to a more effective school to work transition for school and VET graduates;
• Strengthening planning and budgeting processes and financial management capacities within ministries responsible for secondary education and VET.

Health

• Strengthening governance and leadership in the health system;
• Improving coverage with appropriate, available, equitable, affordable and quality health services, especially for vulnerable populations and at primary health care level.

Rural Development

• Improving governance at sub-national and community-based levels and strengthened capacity for decentralized inclusive rural development;
• Improving farm smallholders' resilience to extreme natural hazards and livelihoods;
• Climate change mitigation through the establishment of integrated water and other natural resource management and governance system within selected river (sub) basin.

The new MIP will cover the period 2021 to 2027.

. Although the duration of this MIP is seven years, the indicative allocations for Tajikistan and for each of the priority areas and support measures laid down below are provided for the 2021-2024 period only and amount to (MEUR) 91.

The indicative allocations for 2025-2027, as well as the possible modification of other substantial elements of this MIP, will be subject to a decision by the EU.

The following 3 priority areas have been identified:

• Inclusive Green and Digital Economy (27 MEUR): contribute towards poverty reduction, food security and livelihood creation through the potential of greening agribusiness, promoting private sector development and the adoption of new low-carbon technologies as drivers for growth. Improving the policy and monitoring frameworks for climate-smart and sustainable agriculture will require capacity building, know-how transfer as well as sector governance. The actions under this sector will contain strong cross-linkages with PA 3, and will deliver towards SDGs 1, 2, 5, 8,12 13, 17.
• Human Development (22.75 MEUR): continue to assist Tajikistan in accelerating achievements in the education and health sectors, especially considering the adverse impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the provision of essential services. Health sector reform efforts cannot be achieved without targeted support to develop and strengthen health sector financing mechanisms as the most deep rooted and politically contentious bottleneck toward UHC.
• Natural resources management, efficiency and resilience (39.13 MEUR): contribute to the development and implementation of a sound policy on environmental protection and Climate Change adaptation and mitigation, which can also contribute to security and stability of the Central Asia region. The EU aims to employ vast experience with innovative solutions to tackle challenges under this priority area, dramatically improving data collection and management in support of the river basin approach, climate change adaptation and monitoring of ecologically relevant indicators.

Support measures amount to 1.82 MEUR.

Central Asia new regional multi-annual indicative programme, with a total of EUR 360 million, foresees the continuation of cooperation at regional level in the fields of Energy, Environment/Water and Socio-Economic development, Integrated Border Management, Fight against Drugs and Crime, Rule of Law platform Education (ERASMUS+),  Transport and Energy (TRACECA, INOGATE ).

Tajikistan also benefits from thematic support through EIDHR, NSA, Migration  and asylum and funding channelled through global initiatives like Global partnership for education Global Fund to fight HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria  and GAVI alliance where the EU and its member states are the major donor. 

Specific projects are implemented under the Instrument contributing to stability and peace and the Instrument for Nuclear Safety Cooperation.