Brussels, 27/11/2001 (Agence Europe) - On Tuesday, the European Commission decided to fund the sending of an EU Election Observation Mission to observe the forthcoming commune elections in Cambodia to the tune of EUR 1.25 million. The elections scheduled for 3 February 2002 are the first direct elections of commune councils in the recent history of Cambodia. The Commission hopes the presence of the observers can help defuse tension and deter possible election malpractice and violence. It will be headed by Carlos Costa Neves MEP, Deputy Chairperson of the European Parliament's Delegation for relations with ASEAN member states, South-East Asia and the Republic of Korea.