Brussels, 16/09/2009 (Agence Europe) - Respect for the rule of law, together with reform of the legal system and defence of human rights, is fundamental to the Union, affirmed European Commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner, in her brief presentation on Wednesday 16 September, to the European Parliament, of the cooperation partnership agreement with Tajikistan. Economic reform is also necessary, with debt reduction and agricultural reform providing opportunities to farm the land. Tajikistan has already received relatively large amounts of aid from the Union: 66 million for 2010 and probably 70 million for 2011-13.
All those who spoke recognised Tajikistan's crucial role in Europe's security. Alojz Peterle (EPP, Slovenia), the rapporteur, was the first to speak and underlined the importance of problem solving: poverty, crime, drug trafficking, democratic shortcomings. Filip Kaczmarkek (EPP, Poland) said that this country could be a precious ally to the Union and pointed out that the EU is also its main economic partner. Another EPP member, Bernd Posselt (Germany) warned against the EU adopting a paternalist attitude. Niccolo Rinaldi (Italy, ALDE) said that this country was indeed not on the edge of the world and wanted more progress in the economic and trade domain but also in the political area. Heidi Hautala (Greens/EFA) pointed out that the country was better at meeting the partnership conditions than Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. She welcomed the creation of the post of ombudsman as a step towards democratisation. She also mentioned the question of water and pointed out that the country had big reservoirs, which the Union would do well to use. George Tannock from the Conservatives and Reformers said that, “Europe must retain a sense of collective engagement vis-à-vis an isolated and largely ignored region”. The Tajik government rejected extremism and had given its support to NATO operations against the Taliban and had thus demonstrated its desire for peace. Sabine Lösing (GUE, Germany) attacked the Union's policy in the region, which sought to send refugees back. She said they needed to tackle the causes of migration and not punish the immigrants. Speaking on behalf of the Council, the Swedish minister in charge of European Affairs, Cecilia Malmström, said that relations with the country were part of a strategy that went beyond Tajikistan's borders.