Europe Day 2026 Reception, Dushanbe, Tajikistan

Europe Day 2026 Reception, Dushanbe, Tajikistan

Speech of Mr. Radoslaw Darski, EU Ambassador to Tajikistan at the Europe Day Reception in Dushanbe, 6 May 2026, at the presence of Mr. Daler Juma, Minister of Energy and Water Resources of the Republic of Tajikistan.

***

Honourable Minister Daler Juma,

Excellencies, Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen,

• It is a great pleasure to welcome you all to this celebration of Europe Day 2026 - a day when we honour the vision, unity, and shared values that transformed Europe from a continent devastated by war into a beacon of peace, prosperity, and cooperation.

• Seventy-six years ago, Robert Schuman's bold declaration laid the foundation for what would become the European Union - a union built not on the might of arms, but on the strength of shared purpose.

• Today, the EU stands as a testament to what is possible when nations choose dialogue over division, cooperation over conflict, and solidarity over isolation. In a world where peace is under threat and the rules-based order is challenged, Europe's commitment to defending these values - at home and abroad - has never been more vital.

• Tajikistan and the European Union share a deep and growing partnership, one rooted in shared commitment and mutual respect. Our relationship is not just about words - it is about tangible results that improve the lives of Tajik citizens. Together, we are turning shared challenges into shared solutions, proving that stability and prosperity are built through cooperation.
  
  

• In the past year alone, we have seen remarkable progress:
  
  

  • Our political dialogues have deepened cooperation in trade, energy, climate action, and security - critical areas where our partnership strengthens not just Tajikistan, but the broader region.
    
    

  • Through our Global Gateway initiative, the EU is supporting Tajikistan's green and digital transitions, water management, and infrastructure. This work is bringing Tajikistan and the rest of Central Asian countries closer together by improving their connectivity, trade and energy flows.
    
    

  • Our development programmes continue to deliver on the ground, from education and healthcare to countering hybrid threats like disinformation and transnational crime, which undermine stability for all of us.

• Since the beginning of our partnership in the 1990s, the EU has committed around 1.3 billion Euro for Tajikistan. Together, we have achieved remarkable results. Let me highlight a few of many examples:

• We facilitated clean energy generation through the Sebzor hydropower plant, providing access to the grid to almost 0,5 million people and allowing the sale of surplus electricity abroad.

  • We supported a network of primary health care reaching close to 4 million people.

• The EU funded projects to modernise and restore irrigation systems, improved water efficiency and agricultural productivity.
  
  

  • Hundreds of teachers have been trained with modern methods.
    
    

  • Close to 100.000 trees have been planted, irrigation canals have been built, pumping stations have been rehabilitated.

• More broadly, we have supported reforms in the fields of public financial management, education health, energy and water promoting better service delivery.

• However, our partnership is about more than economic cooperation - it is rooted in shared values. The EU and Tajikistan both believe in the importance of human rights, the rule of law, and good governance. These principles are the foundation of lasting security and prosperity. We have seen positive steps in Tajikistan's engagement on these issues, including through our Human Rights Dialogue and judicial reforms.

• Yet, as friends, we must also acknowledge where more progress is needed - whether in protecting press freedom, combating corruption or improving business climate. The EU stands ready to support these efforts, because strong institutions and respect for rights are essential for long-term development - and for the stability of our shared neighbourhood.

• As we celebrate tonight, we must also recognise the courage of Ukraine, a nation defending not just its sovereignty but the very values that define our European Union: rules-based international order, freedom, democracy, and the rule of law.

• Europe's security is indivisible - what threatens one threatens all. More than four years after Russia's full-scale invasion, the EU's support for Ukraine remains unwavering, because peace is not free; it must be defended every day. This is a moral commitment, and one that resonates globally, including here in Central Asia, where respect for international law and territorial integrity must guide our collective future.

• Looking ahead, Tajikistan's strategic role in the region has never been clearer. The Middle Corridor, linking Central Asia to Europe, is more than a trade route - it is a bridge for economic growth, energy security, and cultural exchange. Through initiatives like Global Gateway, we are not only investing in Tajikistan's infrastructure but also in a stable, connected, and resilient neighbourhood - because lasting security depends on shared prosperity.

• On this Europe Day, let us reaffirm our shared belief in a world where cooperation triumphs over conflict, where opportunities are open to all, and where human dignity is protected. The story of Europe is a story of hope - of nations that chose unity after centuries of division. Tajikistan, too, has shown that resilience and determination can overcome even the greatest challenges.
  
  

• The European Union is proud to stand with Tajikistan - as a partner, a friend, and an ally - in building a brighter future. Together, we can achieve great things-for Tajikistan, for our region, and for the world.
  
  

• Happy Europe Day! Long live the friendship between Tajikistan and the European Union!

  ***