EU Election Observation Mission to Indonesia

The European Commission will deploy shortly an EU Election Observation Mission (EOM) for the Parliamentary (5 April) and Presidential Elections (5 July with possible second round) in Indonesia. The European Commission is funding the mission with €5 million from the European Commission's European Initiative for Democracy and Human Rights (EIDHR). The 2004 elections are the second democratic elections after the transition to multi-party democracy and the first direct Presidential elections and represent thus an important test. The mission will be led by Mr Glyn Ford, Member of the European Parliament, Member of the EP Committee on Foreign Affairs, Human Rights, Common Security and Defence Policy.

The deployment of the EU EOM follows an invitation from the National Election Commission of Indonesia and is a concrete expression of the EU's effort to support democratic institutions and stability in the country. The general purpose of EU EOMs is to make an informed assessment on the elections, and through the presence and reporting of international observers, to encourage best practice and enhance the transparency and confidence in the election process. The European Commission also hopes that where EU EOMs are deployed, they can help defuse potential tension and deter possible malpractice.

Mr Glyn Ford, Member of the European Parliament and Member of the EP Committee on Foreign Affairs, Human Rights, Common Security and Defence Policy will be the EU Chief Observer for this mission and is scheduled to arrive in Indonesia shortly. In total, the EU EOM plans to deploy some 200 observers, composed of a core team of experts based in Jakarta, 64 long-term observers to be deployed to the provinces in order to follow pre-electoral preparations, campaigning, voting day and the post-election period, and 128 short-term observers arriving closer to election day. The Core Team comprises: a Chief Observer, a Deputy Chief Observer, an Election Analyst, a Legal Expert, a Media Monitoring Expert, a LTO Co-ordinator with assistants, a Press Officer, a Country Expert, an Operations Expert with assistants and a Security Expert.

The EU EOM will assess the whole election process, including the legal framework, the political environment and campaign, electoral preparations, voting and counting as well as the post-election period. The EU EOM will issue a preliminary statement shortly after election day, and later a final report detailing the findings of the mission and offering recommendations for possible improvement.

The European Commission is also contributing to the organisation of the elections with a €7 million project implemented through UNDP. The EU support is aimed at capacity building of the election commission at national and sub-national level and at voter education and information to be provided by civil society organisations.

For additional information, see also:

http://europa.eu.int/comm/external_relations/human_rights/eu_election_ass_observ/index.htm
http://europa.eu.int/comm/europeaid/projects/eidhr/elections_en.htm

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• EU Presidency declaration on Inauguration of New President of Indonesia (20/10/2004)