Partnership and Cooperation of European Union and Tajikistan on Border Security

Abstract

This research discusses Partnership and Cooperation of Tajikistan and EU on border security. The research question is “How the border security in the context of Partnership and Cooperation Agreement described and how it is implemented? And does the notion of border security coincide between European Union and Tajikistan or do they have different understandings?” During the research comparative analyses and interview is used. Different related documents analyzed, interviews conducted, and the border zones visited. The research have found, that the cooperation of EU and Tajikistan takes place according to PCA, Interim Agreements, Constitution of Tajikistan, Partnership and Cooperation Agreement between European Union, European Partnership Atomic Energy Community and the Republic of Tajikistan. Cooperation Strategy Papers of European Union, EU new neighboring policy and other related contracts and agreements. The notion of Border security of EU and Tajikistan consist of focus elements. They are drug trafficking, arm smuggling, terrorism, religious extremism, immigration, clandestine immigration, money laundering, human trafficking and illegal trade, illegal migration, the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, poverty and low education. The research concludes that these notions in EU’s and Tajikistan’s understanding coincide with each other. However, the level of improvement or process of development is different during implementation. The research has found that two notions of border security of EU and Tajikistan do not coincide with each other. First, ‘Integrated Border Management’ and the second, ‘Changing from military-like structures towards professional.’ IBM does not coincide, because of political reasons and lack of trust and political will between Central Asian States. Second, Military-like structure needed, because different armed group still exist in Central Asia and in order to protect Tajik borders, border troops need to be armed. There is improvement in Border Security in Tajikistan, however, corruption, lack of trust and political will of cooperation in Central Asia remains the most challenging problem for Tajikistan in Border Security.