23/08/2016 (Agence Europe) – In response to an invitation from the Jordanian authorities, an EU election observation mission (EOM) is to be sent to monitor the parliamentary elections on 20 September, High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini announced in early August. Jo Leinen MEP (S&D, Germany) has been appointed to head the EOM. This will be the second time that the European Union will be monitoring elections in Jordan, following an initial mission in 2013. Nine electoral experts and 26 long-term observers have already been deployed on the ground, who will be joined by 40 short-term observers a week before the elections. The mission will publish a preliminary statement on 22 September and a final report and recommendations at a later stage. (CG)