The European Union and Tajikistan held the 5th meeting of the EU-Tajikistan Sub-Committee on Development Cooperation in Dushanbe on 3 July 2026, reviewing ongoing and planned bilateral cooperation and reaffirming commitments under the Global Gateway strategy. The meeting was co-chaired by Charlotte Adriaen, Head of Unit for the Middle East and Central Asia at the European Commission's Directorate-General for International Partnerships, and Rukhshona Nasriddinzoda, Deputy Minister of Economic Development and Trade of Tajikistan. The EU delegation also included Ingrid Cailhol, Head of Sector for Central Asia at DG INTPA, Avril Jatariu, Desk Officer for Tajikistan at the European External Action Service, and Isabel Uriz-Hernandez, Head of EU Cooperations in Tajikistan.
Discussions focused on the implementation of Global Gateway priorities in Tajikistan and the wider region, notably connectivity, digitalisation, energy, water, climate and critical raw materials. The subcommittee also served as a platform to review Tajikistan's development and investment priorities, exchange views on participation in regional trade and security programmes, and discuss the way forward for stronger partnership-based cooperation between the European Union and Tajikistan. The meeting builds on the Multiannual Indicative Programme 2021–2027, which guides EU development assistance to the country.
The subcommittee is a regular forum for dialogue on development cooperation, with previous meetings having addressed similar themes. The EU is a key development partner for Tajikistan, providing support for sustainable development, governance, and economic diversification. The meeting did not announce new funding commitments but reaffirmed the shared commitment to strengthening EU–Tajikistan relations through concrete cooperation projects.
Stakeholders impacted include Tajikistan's government and population, who benefit from EU-funded projects in areas such as water management and digital infrastructure; EU businesses, which may gain opportunities in connectivity and raw materials sectors; and EU taxpayers, whose funds support the development programmes. The meeting's focus on critical raw materials and connectivity aligns with EU strategic interests in diversifying supply chains and enhancing regional stability.