DUSHANBE, November 2, 2011, Asia-Plus -- The Delegation of the European Union to Tajikistan is extending a public invitation to its annual European Week 2011, which will be held November 2-15, the Delegation of the European Union in Tajikistan reports.

European Week 2011 will feature a series of events organized by the Bactria Cultural Center and its partners promoting social, artistic, and educational aspects of the European countries’ culture.  Presentations on scientific research, debates on contemporary social issues, and theatrical and musical performances will be featured in this annual festival of European culture.

“Youth Brings Us Closer” is the theme for European Week 2011, as young people today will become the decision makers and cultural personalities of tomorrow.  A series of cultural and educational events such as an international debate tournament “Young Generation: New Strategies for EU/CA Cooperation” will provide opportunity for discussion and create spaces for young people to exchange energy and ideas.  European Week 2011 will also sponsor a variety of events including a film festival in Dushanbe and Qurghon Teppa featuring European films about contemporary issues facing youth, and a public lecture on French-Tajik cooperation in the field of archaeology.  Pascal Delhay, a French dancer and mime, will perform in both Dushanbe and Qurghon Teppa, as well as teach a master class to the dancers of the Padida Theatre Company.  The choreography from this master class will be performed by Padida dancers in Dushanbe.  A music festival featuring young Tajik musicians performing in European languages will be held at the Gurminj Museum of Musical Instruments.  Several countries from the European Union such as Austria, Denmark, Great Britain, Finland, France, Poland and Portugal will present films addressing various social issues in Dushanbe and in Qurghon Teppa.

The European Union, composed of 27 Member States, is the world’s biggest aid donor. Tajikistan gets the main share of bilateral assistance in the Central Asian region (€66 million for 2007-2010 and 62 million for 2011-2013) in support to sector programs, technical assistance and grants.  It focuses on social protection, health and private sector development, underpinned by public finance management.  Tajikistan also receives regional and thematic assistance in areas like border management and drug control (BOMCA/CADAP), education (TEMPUS, Erasmus Mundus), water / environment, migration, human rights and democracy (EIDHR), non-State actors (NSA) and SME development (CA-Invest).  The total value of EU assistance disbursed to Tajikistan since 1992 is over €500 million.