News Release
Chris Patten
No. 157/04
November 4, 2004
EU COMMISSION OFFERS FRESH SUPPORT FOR ELECTORAL PROCESS
IN IRAQ
As EU leaders prepare to meet the Iraqi Prime Minister Ayad Allawi at the
European
Council on 5th November, the European Commission is setting out the details
of a €31.5 million package to support election activities in Iraq.
Most of this sum will be channelled through the International Reconstruction Fund
Facility for Iraq, although the European Commission will be funding a number of
additional activities to support the election process, including European election
experts to work with the Independent Electoral Commission of Iraq and the United
Nations in Baghdad, and to train Iraqi election observers.
These measures show the importance that the EU attaches to the holding of inclusive
and transparent elections in Iraq and its commitment to supporting the political
transition towards constitutionally elected Iraqi Government. The package, which
includes €16.5 million of fresh money, brings the Commission’s total contribution
to Iraq in 2003-2004 to almost €320 million.
Commissioner Chris
Patten said: “Elections are crucial to the development of a democratic
and stable Iraq.
The substantial election assistance that we will be presenting to Prime Minister
Allawi is part of a wider package that demonstrates once again, the EU’s commitment
to helping Iraq build for a more peaceful and prosperous future.”
Following a Commission fact-finding mission last October, and in agreement with
the UN Electoral Assistance Division and the Iraqi Independent Electoral Commission,
the Commission has decided to contribute to the preparation of the Iraqi elections
with the following measures:
€30 million for preparation of the election, including support for the Independent
Electoral Commission, Information Technology, voter outreach, media development
and boosting the participation of women. This contribution is €15 million higher
than originally planned, with €14 million drawn from the Rapid
Reaction Mechanism, and €1 million from the European
Initiative for Democracy and Human Rights.
€1.5 million for activities including:
- Deployment of 3 European experts to Baghdad to support
the work of the Independent Election Commission through the UN Election Assistance
Division.
- Training programme for up to 150 representatives from Iraqi
domestic observer groups.
- Elections for a Transitional National Assembly in Iraq,
which will form a new government and draft a new constitution, are due to take
place in January 2005.
Background
Taking into account the new package, the European Commission and the European
Community Humanitarian Office have provided Iraq
with assistance amounting to almost €320 million from the Community budget. Last
March,
the European Commission set 3 priority areas for assistance to Iraq in 2004: governance
and civil society (the category into which the election package falls); essential
public services (health, education, water and sanitation); and poverty and jobs.
The Commission is preparing a new assistance programme for 2005, currently proposed
to amount to €200 million.
In June
2004, the Commission proposed a new framework for the EU’s relations with
Iraq, proposing actions for the immediate future, the post-election period, and
the medium term, culminating in a bilateral agreement with Iraq, associating Iraq
with other partners in the region.
For further information on the EU-Iraq relations:
http://europa.eu.int/comm/external_relations/iraq/intro/index.htm
Communication "European Union and Iraq: a Framework for Engagement"
at:
http://europa.eu.int/comm/external_relations/iraq/doc/com04_417_en.pdf
