07/02/2018 (Agence Europe) – On Wednesday 7 February, an EU spokesperson announced at midday that "the head of the EU Delegation will be in the Maldives (...) in the next 24 hours, along with several other heads of mission" from the EU member states, in order to put across the European position. The situation in the country is very unstable, following the decision of the president to declare a state of emergency and the decision of the supreme court to rescind one of its decisions about political opponents (see EUROPE 11955). The spokesperson stated that the EU expected the Maldivian authorities to respect the principles of the separation of powers that are intrinsic to democracy, and to immediately lift the state of emergency and enable the return to normal functioning of the democratic institutions – in particular the parliament and the judiciary. (CG)