Brussels, 15/01/2026 (Agence Europe) – In response to an invitation from the Colombian authorities, the European Union announced on Thursday, 15 January, that an Election Observation Mission (EOM) would be deployed for the legislative elections (8 March) and the presidential elections (31 May and 21 June) that will be held in Colombia. Led by MEP Esteban González Pons (EPP, Spanish), this mission will be comprised of 10 experts who will arrive in the country on 26 January, 38 long-term observers who will join the mission in February, and at least 46 short-term observers who will reinforce the EOM the day of the elections. In a press release, Mr Pons [expressed that he] was pleased to be contributing, through the EOM, to ensuring a democratic electoral process “in a country with a long tradition of holding transparent and credible elections”. (MB)