DUSHANBE, November 22, 2008, Asia-Plus  -- The next 8th meeting of the EU (European Union)-Tajikistan Joint Committee is expected to take place in Dushanbe on November 25, according to presidential press service.   

The European Commission delegation comprising Mr. Victor Andreas Maldonado, Head of Eastern European, Caucasus and Central Asia Directorate of the European Commission Foreign Affairs General Directorate, Mr. Norbert Jousten, Head of the European Commission Delegation to Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, Ms. Charlotte Adrian, Head of the European Commission in Tajikistan, and others will arrive in Dushanbe on Monday.  

The meeting aims to consider issues related to implementation of the European Union’s Strategy for Central Asia in Tajikistan, macroeconomic development and prognosis, etc.

The legal framework for EU-Tajikistan bilateral relations is the Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA) in 1989 between the EU and the former Soviet Union, which was endorsed by Tajikistan by exchange of letter in 1994.  Since December 2001, seven EC-Tajikistan Joint Committees have taken place in the framework of the TCA dealing with trade, economic and cooperation issues. 

A Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (PCA) signed between the EU and Tajikistan in Luxemburg on October 11 2004, replaced the TCA.  The PCA heightens the EC’s profile and EU interests in Tajikistan.  It reinforces the country’s stability and the fight against drugs and terrorism. The PCA with Tajikistan brings EU relations with Tajikistan into line with relations with the other Central Asian countries.

The main assistance instruments used by the European Commission in Tajikistan are: Technical Assistance for the Commonwealth of Independent States (TACIS), the Food Security Programme (FSP), the Exceptional Financial Assistance (EFA), the European Initiative for Democracy and Human Rights (EIDHR) and humanitarian assistance (ECHO).