Brussels, 17/04/2002 (Agence Europe) - In response to an invitation from the Sierra Leone government, the European Union will be sending an election observation mission to this ACP country to observe the presidential and legislative elections on 14 May. The team of European observers will be headed by MEP Johan Van Hecke, Vice-President of the ACP/EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly. Its mission will be two-fold. On one hand, just by being there, it will discourage fraud and invite voters to go to the urns, and, on the other, it will carry out a detailed and impartial assessment of the elections. Twenty long-term observers will be deployed from 18 April to follow the pre-electoral process (registration of candidates and voters, electoral campaigns, preparations for polling day, and any complaints or appeals from candidates or political parties against the results). Fifty-six short-term observers will join the mission in the first week of May. Their work of assessment will cover the respect of human rights and democratic principles, media access during the campaign, the vote and the count.
In a press release, the European Commission recalls that the observation of elections, on the basis of partnership with the host country, is an important component of the EU's policy to promote human rights and democratisation throughout the world.