Cooperation on migration
Article 70
1. The Parties reaffirm the importance, which they attach to a joint management of migration flows between their territories. With a view to strengthening cooperation between them, they shall establish a comprehensive dialogue on all migration-related issues, including illegal migration, smuggling and trafficking in human beings, as well as the inclusion of the migration concerns in the national strategies for economic and social development of the areas from which migrants originate. 2. Cooperation shall be based on a specific needs assessment conducted in mutual consultation between the Parties and be implemented in accordance with the relevant Community and national legislation in force. It will, in particular, focus on: (a) the root causes of migration; (b) the development and implementation of national legislation and practices as regards international protection, with a view to satisfying the provisions of the Geneva Convention of 1951 on the status of refugees and of the Protocol of 1967 and other relevant international instruments, and to ensuring the respect of the principle of ‘non-refoulement’; (c) the admission rules and rights and status of persons admitted, fair treatment and integration of lawfully residing non-nationals, education and training and measures against racism and xenophobia; (d) the establishment of an effective and preventive policy against illegal immigration, smuggling of migrants and trafficking in human beings including the issue of how to combat networks of smugglers and traffickers and how to protect the victims of such trafficking; (e) the return, under humane and dignified conditions, of persons residing illegally including the promotion of their voluntary return, and the readmission of such persons, in accordance with paragraph 3; (f) the field of visas, on issues identified as being of mutual interest; (g) the field of border controls, on issues related to organisation, training, best practices and other operational measures on the ground and where relevant, equipment, while being aware of the potential dual-use of such equipment. 3. In the framework of the cooperation to prevent and control illegal immigration, the Parties also agree to readmit their illegal migrants. To this end: — the Republic of Tajikistan shall readmit any of its nationals illegally present on the territory of a Member State of the European Union, upon request by the latter and without further formalities, — and each Member State of the European Union shall readmit any of its nationals illegally present on the territory of the Republic of Tajikistan, upon request by the latter and without further formalities. The Member States of the European Union and the Republic of Tajikistan will provide their nationals with appropriate identity documents for such purposes. The Parties agree to conclude, upon request and as soon as possible, an agreement regulating the specific obligations for Member States of the European Union and the Republic of Tajikistan on readmission, including an obligation for the readmission of nationals of other countries and stateless persons. For this purpose, the term ‘Parties’ shall mean the European Community, any of its Member States and the Republic of Tajikistan.