Brussels, 21/12/2011 (Agence Europe) - In a statement published on Tuesday 20 December, EU High Representative for Foreign Policy Catherine Ashton, said: “The EU has taken note of the definitive results of the presidential elections in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) as announced by the Supreme Court of Justice. The EU notes that the Court has confirmed the results announced by the CENI [Commission électorale nationale indépendante], despite shortcomings identified by the Congolese authorities themselves and by the CENI. The EU would first of all like to pay tribute to the Congolese people, large numbers of whom went to the polls peacefully. In this context, the EU reiterates its concern at the serious shortcomings and lack of transparency in the compilation and publication of the results reported by, amongst others, the EU Election Observation Mission, which affect confidence in the electoral process. The EU will re-evaluate its support for the next stages in the Congolese democratic process. It is now important that lessons should be learned without delay and that the results of the parliamentary elections should be compiled in such a way that transparency and credibility are guaranteed. The EU urges the CENI and the Congolese authorities to take the concerns of the observer missions into account, to implement their recommendations and to be open to co-operation with the opposition.' (OL/transl.fl)