EU Presidency declaration on Togo

The European Union welcomes the resignation of Mr. Faure Gnassingbé on 25 February 2005, as part of a return to constitutional order. This move should pave the way for free and transparent presidential elections, to which the EU stands ready to lend its assistance.

In this context, the European Union continues to support efforts made by ECOWAS and the African Union aimed at ensuring a successful transition and facilitating the holding of free and transparent elections. The EU insists that human rights and civil liberties be respected and security guaranteed for everyone.

The European Union also insists that the undertakings made by the government of Togo in the framework of the consultations held under Article 96 of the Cotonou Agreement be honoured, in particular the holding of a national political dialogue enabling the setting up of an electoral framework acceptable to all parties for holding presidential and parliamentary elections.

The Acceding Countries Bulgaria and Romania, the Candidate Countries Turkey and Croatia[1], the Countries of the Stabilisation and Association Process and potential candidates Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Serbia and Montenegro, and the EFTA countries Liechtenstein and Norway, members of the European Economic Area, align themselves with this declaration.

[1] Croatia continues to be part of the Stabilisation and Association Process.

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• EU Presidency Declaration on Togo (24/10/2005)
• EU Parliament says fresh elections needed in Togo (12/5/2005)