EU stuurt waarnemers naar verkiezingen Oost-Timor (en)

Invited by the authorities of Timor-Leste, the European Union will observe the Parliamentary Elections of 07 July. The Member of the European Parliament and Chief Observer of the European Union Election Observation Mission (EU EOM), Ms Fiona Hall, arrived in Timor-Leste on 7 June to introduce the EU EOM at a press conference taking place in Dili

Catherine Ashton, the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and the Security Policy, declared: "I am impressed with the overall development during the last years during which the country has shown political maturity in handling critical situations. The recent celebrations of the 10th anniversary of the restoration of independence were an excellent occasion to honour the country's impressive achievements. 2012 is a crucial year for Timor-Leste, with Presidential and Legislative Elections and the scheduled withdrawal of the United Nations' Integrated Mission. The peaceful and well organized Presidential Elections in March and April give us confidence that the upcoming Legislative Elections will also be held in a peaceful atmosphere, thus providing further evidence that Timor-Leste is firmly set on its path towards normalisation"

Ms Fiona Hall will have a series of meetings with stakeholders for the forthcoming Parliamentary Election. She will hold discussions with candidates and political parties, the commissioners of the National Electoral Commission (CNE), the representatives of the Technical Secretariat for Electoral Administration (STAE) and civil society organizations

A core team of six election analysts arrived in Dili on 26 May to co-ordinate the Election Observation Mission. In the coming days and weeks the EU EOM will deploy 28 long-term observers and 12 short-term observers from 25 EU member states, as well as from Switzerland and Norway. The EU EOM will also be joined, shortly before election-day, by a delegation from the European Parliament. Locally-recruited short-term observers from EU member states' embassies in Dili and Jakarta may also join the EU EOM in the run-up to the election

Altogether, about 60 to 70 EU observers will be in the country to observe the elections of 7 July

The EU EOM will assess the legal framework, the work of the election administration, the media environment, the role of civil society and the participation of women. The mission will also evaluate the general electoral context, the electoral campaign, the conduct of the poll on voting day, the compilation of results and post-election activities, including complaints and appeals procedures

The EU EOM operates in accordance with the "Declaration of Principles for International Election Observation" adopted by a number of international bodies involved in election observation in 2005 at the United Nations in New York. Shortly after Election Day, the mission will issue a preliminary statement of its initial findings at a press conference in Dili. A more comprehensive final report, including recommendations for future elections, will be presented by Ms. Hall to the authorities during a return visit