08/02/2007 (Agence Europe) - The Commission has decided to deploy an election observation mission (EOM) to Mauritania for the presidential elections on 11 March. Led by Marie-Anne Isler-Beguin (Green-EFA, France), the mission will arrive in the country by the third week of February. The core team will then be joined by 20 long-term observers, then by 40 short-term observers. Speaking of the work of the previous EU mission to Mauritania, Benita Ferrero-Waldner said that the legislative elections of November 2006 “confirm the commitment of the Mauritanian government to work towards the re-establishment of democratic institutions and our new EOM symbolises our continuous support to Mauritania in its democratic reform”. (ab)