DUSHANBE, 23.11.2021 (NIAT Khovar) – The EU will allocate €1 billion for Afghanistan and its neighboring countries, including Tajikistan. This was stated yesterday in Dushanbe by the EU Commissioner for International Partnerships Jutta Urpilainen at a press conference following the talks with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Tajikistan Sirodjidin Muhriddin.

“We are mobilizing a support package of €1 billion for the Afghan people and also Afghanistan’s border countries. This package has several components, such as €300 million earmarked as humanitarian assistance. The package aims to directly address the basic needs of the Afghan people without rendering legitimacy to the Taliban or engaging with government structures,” she noted.

Urpilainen announced that €91 million will be allocated for Tajikistan for the next four years.

“This amount will be complemented with the funds for the years 2025 till to 2027 period following the midterm review around 2024 to assess progress,” she emphasized.

Urpilainen also mentioned that consultations have been held with the government, civil society, the private sector and other partners.

“We have defined three priority areas which will mainly focus on the next few years. They are inclusive green and digital economy, human development, natural resources, management, efficiency, and resilience,” she added.

Regarding the regional program for Central Asia, she said that in addition to that, Tajikistan will also benefit from this program.

“We have two priorities. The first one is resilience, covering water, energy, human rights, women and empowerment, law, civil society, peace and stability. The second one is prosperity, government digital connectivity, entrepreneurship, regional trade, and human development,” Urpilainen added.

Vice-President of the European Commission, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell, and the Commissioner of the European Commission for International Partnerships Jutta Urpilainen arrived in Tajikistan to attend the meeting of Central Asian and EU foreign ministers, which was held yesterday in Dushanbe.