Brussels, 15/09/2008 (Agence Europe) - The European Commission has decided to deploy an EU electoral observation mission in Ecuador to monitor the referendum on a new constitution, scheduled for 28 September. The mission will be headed by Mr José Ribeiro e Castro (EPP-ED, Portugal), who headed the electoral observation mission organised for the election of the members of the constituent assembly last year. In a press release published on Monday 15 September, the commissioner for external relations, Benita Ferrero-Waldner, explains: “This referendum is important, as it gives the citizens of Ecuador the possibility to express their views on a new constitution for their country”. The presence of an observation mission will contribute to “strengthening transparency and citizens' confidence at this crucial time for the future of the country”, she added.
Five experts will make up the mission's basic team. They will be joined by 16 long-term observers and, on the day when the ballot takes place, by a number of short-term observers from EU diplomatic circles and from the European Parliament. The European Commission has made €750,000 available from the European Initiative for Democracy and Human Rights (EIDHR) for this mission. (A.B./transl.jl)