The European Union will not observe the 5 June parliamentary elections in Ethiopia, as the conditions for such a mission are not met, announced the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell, on Monday 3 May.
“Despite all efforts by the European Union, it was not possible to reach an agreement with Ethiopian authorities on key parameters for the deployment of an EU Electoral Observation Mission in view of the parliamentary elections on 5 June 2021. As conditions are not fulfilled, the deployment of the mission has to be cancelled,” said the High Representative in a statement issued on behalf of the EU27 on Monday evening.
“The EU regrets the refusal of the fulfilment of standard requirements for the deployment of any Electoral Observation Mission, namely the independence of the Mission and the import of mission communication systems, something that is key for the security of EU observers, in particular in the context of a challenging security environment”, said Mr Borrell.
He added, “It is disappointing that the EU has not received the assurances necessary to extend to the Ethiopian people one of its most visible signs of support for their quest for democracy.”
The High Representative also recalled that the EU has already mobilised more than 20 million euros “in the preparation of these elections”.
This election observation mission, which was to take place if the situation in Tigray did not deteriorate, had been announced to the European Foreign Ministers on 19 April (see EUROPE 12701/5). (Original version in French by Aminata Niang)