Council Conclusions on measures to support elections in Afghanistan

The Council re-affirmed its commitment to the vision of a secure, stable, free, prosperous and democratic Afghanistan. It reiterated the European Union's commitment, given at the Berlin Conference earlier this year, to assist the electoral authorities and the Afghan Transitional Authority so as to ensure that Presidential and Parliamentary elections can be held in accordance with the principles of the Bonn Agreement of December 2001.

In this regard, the Council endorsed plans by the European Commission to deploy a Democracy and Election Support Team as a good basis for supporting the election process in Afghanistan. It invited the Commission to continue to examine, in light of the evolving security situation, the scope to support the election process in Afghanistan including by expanding the Democracy and Election Support Team, and support for training of domestic election monitors. The deployment of this team together with other planned support measures will serve to enhance the assessment of the elections that will be undertaken by the office of the European Union's Special Representative to Afghanistan and will facilitate the provision of advice and support to the Afghan authorities in conducting the elections and during the process of democratisation after election day. The team will also work to co-ordinate election support activities with other donors and interested parties.

The Council expressed its grave concern over the recent deplorable murders and attacks against international humanitarian personnel and those working for the reconstruction of Afghanistan. The Council will keep the security situation in Afghanistan under close review. In advance of the elections, the Council called for the swift, unconditional and comprehensive compliance by all concerned with the Disarmament, Demobilisation and Reintegration process.

The Council noted that these new measures are in addition to the financial support of over € 24 million in Community assistance already approved to support voter registration, voter education and to help the electoral authorities prepare for polling.

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