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EU ELECTION OBSERVATION MISSION TO WEST BANK AND GAZA
DEPLOYED The European Union Election
Observation Mission for the Presidential elections in West
Bank and Gaza has begun work. In total, the EU is deploying
more than 260 observers. This includes the EU Election
Observation Mission with a core team of 13 staff, which
arrived in the West Bank and Gaza this week, some 40
long-term observers, arriving around 15 December, and more
than 130 short-term observers, arriving in early January.
The total also comprises an observation delegation from the
European Parliament made up of 30 Members of Parliament plus
16 assistants, and contributions from the governments of
Switzerland, Norway and Canada. The EU Election Observation
Mission’s Chief Observer, Mr. Michel Rocard, Member of the
European Parliament, has started a round of meetings with
relevant interlocutors in the West Bank and Israel. The
presence of the EOM and the reporting of its observers will
help to increase transparency and provide an independent and
impartial assessment of the election process.
Commissioner Ferrero-Waldner said: “Our
Election Observation Mission is an important contribution to
ensuring that the forthcoming Palestinian Presidential
elections are assessed against international standards. The
quality of these elections will have a direct bearing on the
authority of the winner. The Palestinians need leaders with
the legitimacy that only credible democratic elections can
bring”.
In line with the principles of the
Quartet Roadmap, the European Commission has been in the
lead in 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 Central Election Commission,
including 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.
Press Officer, Election Observation
Mission: Nueala Haughey, 00972 546907617
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