Co-chaired by Mr. Luc Devigne, Director for Russia, Eastern Partnership, Central Asia and the OSCE at the European External Action Service and Mr. Zavqi Zavqizoda, First Deputy Minister of Economic Development and Trade of Tajikistan, the sixth meeting of the EU-Tajikistan Cooperation Committee took place in Brussels on March 9.

The meeting participants discussed priorities of cooperation between Tajikistan and European Union, according to the press center of the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade of Tajikistan (MoEDT).

The press center says that it was noted during the meeting that during the period from 2014 to 2020, the European Union will provide 251 million euros to finance “the main directions of Tajikistan’s socioeconomic spheres, in particular education, health care, energy and development of the regions.” 

The meeting participants also exchanged views on a new EU Strategy for Central Asia, which is currently under preparation.

The next Cooperation Committee meeting is due to take place in 2019 in Dushanbe.

While in Brussels, the head of the Tajik delegation also held a meeting with Mr. Pierre Amilhat, Director for Asia, Central Asia, Middle East/Gulf and the Pacific at the European Commission's Department for International Cooperation and Development.  The two reportedly discussed issues related to supporting Tajikistan’s national budget.  

The EU-Tajikistan Cooperation Committee was set up in 2011 to strengthen and develop mutually beneficial cooperation in economic and trade spheres, as well as to attract EU investment and new technology into Tajik economy.