Tajik President Emomali Rahmon today met in the Kazakh capital, Astana, with the European Union Council President Charles Michel.

According to the Tajik president’s official website, the parties discussed state and prospects of further expansion of cooperation between Tajikistan and the European Union.

Rahmon, in particular, noted that Tajikistan attaches significance to the European Union in its foreign policy.  

The parties reportedly expressed satisfaction with the current level of cooperation and discussed issues related to investment in Tajikistan’s economy, operations of joint ventures and providing technical and financial assistance to priority socioeconomic branches of Tajikistan.  

They also discussed financial support for elimination of the consequences of the coronavirus.

The parties reported outlined mining industry, infrastructure construction, agriculture, and tourism as areas which could drive trade between Tajikistan and the European Union.

Rahmon and Michel also discussed cooperation in the fields of education and health care.    

They also exchanged views on a number of regional and international issues being of mutual interest, including providing regional security in Central Asia and strengthening security along Tajikistan’s common border with Afghanistan.      

Established as an informal summit in 1975, the European Council was formalized as an institution in 2009 upon the commencement of the Treaty of Lisbon.  It is the EU institution that defines the general political direction and priorities of the European Union. 

The European Council is a collegiate body that defines the overall political direction and priorities of the European Union.  It is composed of the heads of state or government of the EU member states, the President of the European Council, and the President of the European Commission.  The High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy also takes part in its meetings.