23/06/2021 (Agence Europe) – In response to an invitation from the Zambian authorities, the EU will observe the general election in Zambia on 12 August. The European External Action Service announced this on 22 June, the day the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell, appointed MEP Maria Arena (S&D, Belgium) to lead the EU Election Observation Mission (EU-EOM) - the fifth since 2001. “It illustrates our long-term commitment to encouraging and supporting peaceful, credible, inclusive and transparent elections in Zambia”, according to Mr Borrell. The EU EOM core team of 11 experts will arrive in Lusaka at the end of June. Thirty-two long-term observers will be deployed throughout the country in the second week of July. Some 30 short-term observers will reinforce the mission on election day. (AN)