News Release
Benita Ferrero-Waldner
No. 165/04
November 22, 2004
EU COMMISSION TO SEND EU ELECTION OBSERVER
MISSION TO PALESTINIAN ELECTIONS
As one of the first acts of the new
EU Commission, which took office today under the Presidency of José
Manuel Barroso,
Benita Ferrero-Waldner, EU Commissioner for External
Relations and the European
Neighborhood Policy, has decided to deploy an EU Election
Observer Mission (EOM) to observe the Presidential Elections in the
West Bank and Gaza scheduled for 9th January 2005. The decision is a concrete
expression of the EU’s effort to support the development of democratic institutions
and stability in the Palestinian Territories. The presence of the EOM and the
reporting of its observers will help to increase transparency and build confidence
in the election process.
Commissioner Ferrero-Waldner said: “It is crucial – for the Palestinians themselves,
and for the
peace process – that a new Palestinian leadership has the legitimacy that
only credible elections can bring. The EU has gained a reputation as a major,
professional actor in the field of election observation, and I am convinced that
the mission announced today has an essential role to play."
The European Commission intends to deploy the Mission in early December. It will
be led by former French Prime Minister, and current member of the European
Parliament,
Michel Rocard.
In line with the principles of the
Quartet Roadmap, the European Commission has led the international community
in providing support to the Palestinian electoral process since 2003. The overall
objective is to give the Palestinian society a chance to hold meaningful and credible
elections to provide democratic legitimacy for the institutions on the road to
statehood. Some €14 million have been allocated since 2003 to prepare the elections.
Of this, € 2.5 million has been designated for the EU Election Observation Mission
announced today.
In addition to deployment of an Election Observation Mission, the core elements
of EU support are financial assistance to election operations to be carried out
by the Palestinian Election Commission and its Election Administration, voter
registration, support for polling and counting activities and voter information.
In delivering this, the EU has worked closely with other partners in the international
community.
For further information:
http://europa.eu.int/comm/external_relations/human_rights/
eu_election_ass_observ/index.htm
