EC/Tajikistan Partnership and Cooperation Agreement

PURPOSE: to conclude a Partnership and Cooperation Agreement between the European Union and Tajikistan.

LEGISLATIVE ACT : Decision 2009/989/EC, Euratom of the Council and of the Commission on the conclusion of a Partnership and Cooperation Agreement establishing a partnership between the European Communities and their Member States, of the one part, and the Republic of Tajikistan, of the other part.

CONTENT: the Council adopted a decision approving the conclusion of the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement establishing a partnership between the European Communities and their Member States, of the one part, and the Republic of Tajikistan, of the other part. It is hereby approved on behalf of the European Community and the European Atomic Energy Community.

Though modelled on other partnership and cooperation agreements, the EU Tajikistan agreement is the first to include clauses on action against terrorism and weapons of mass destruction. It will be concluded for a period of ten years, automatically renewable from year to year thereafter. The Agreement will open the way for deeper relations in a great number of fields, based on reciprocity and partnership. The Agreement is founded on respect for the essential principles of democracy, human rights and the rule of law, and on the promotion of sustainable development and the link between different aid instruments (the link between relief, rehabilitation and development).

The Agreement has three main components: political dialogue, cooperation and trade. It also includes general and institutional provisions to sustain those components.

       I.      Political dialogue: the EU and Tajikistan will pursue a regular political dialogue. They will in particular cooperate against terrorism, the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and trafficking, including the drugs trade;

    II.      Cooperation: the Agreement includes provisions in the area of social and economic cooperation, finance and trade, science, information society and technologies, culture, education and audio-visual, state reform and public administration, social and legislative cooperation. The Agreement also provides for commitments and cooperation in re-admission, in the control of illegal immigration, and in combating drugs and organised crime. The Agreement also provides for cooperation on democracy and human rights. A separate protocol covers mutual assistance in customs matters;

 III.      Trade: the Agreement also includes provisions on trade in goods and services and on trade and investment.

The Agreement includes a clause permitting its unilateral suspension if an essential element is violated (i.e. respect for democracy, human rights and the principles of a market economy).

Institutional provisions: the Agreement establishes institutional machinery for its implementation in the form of a Cooperation Council, a Cooperation Committee and a Parliamentary Committee.

ENTRY INTO FORCE: the Agreement shall enter into force on 1 January 2010.