Brussels, 20/12/2000 (Agence Europe) - On Thursday, the European Commission is to release assistance of 1.7 million euro to monitor the elections in Peru on 8 April 2001. This aid comprises support for the European Electoral Observation Mission (EOM), the Peruvian Ombudsman's Office (200,000 euro), and aid to the NGOs Transpaencia (295,000 euro) and Consejo por la Paz (85,000). Invited by the Peruvian authorities established since the political crisis of September last to monitor the elections, the European mission, composed of 10 long-term observers and 32 short-term observers, will go to Peru a few weeks before the ballot, to monitor the preparations for the elections, the electoral campaign, then the vote counting process. Its goal will be to reduce the risk of fraud and contribute to transparency and confidence in the electoral process. The Peruvian Ombudsman and NGOs will be responsible, notably, for voter-education, especially in the regions that were under military control, and for educating officials responsible for the follow-up of the electoral process and local observers.