PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS IN WEST BANK AND GAZA
Election observation mission from 7 to 10 January 2005
Report from the Chairperson of the ad hoc delegation for election observation in West Bank and Gaza, Mr Edward Mc MILLAN-SCOTT
Annex: List of participants Programme European Union Election Observation Mission - Preliminary Statement
______8 mars 2005
Introduction
In November 2004, following the death of Mr ARAFAT, Mr Hassan KHREISHEH, the Speaker of the Palestinian Legislative Council invited the European Parliament to observe the presidential elections scheduled for 9 January 2005.
The Conference of Presidents decided, on 18 November 2004, to send a delegation of thirty Members.
The decision to send such a large delegation was taken in light of the political momentum that is in evidence in the Middle East and so as to include all the political groups represented in the European Parliament.
The list of Members who took part in this delegation is attached in Annex A.
An official European Union Election Observation Mission, led by Mr ROCARD, was set up to observe the elections in Palestine. The European Parliament ad hoc delegation and the EU- EOM, as normal in these situations, worked in close cooperation.
Before leaving for Palestine the delegation met twice in order to decide on its chairmanship and to establish a programme for the election observation. At its constitutive meeting on 8 December the delegation appointed Mr McMILLAN-SCOTT as Chairperson and Mrs NAPOLETANO as vice-chairperson. Recommendations were made and an outline of the mission programme was drafted in preparation for the second meeting.
At its second meeting on 15 December the delegation adopted the programme and appointed Mr GUARDANS, SPERONI and Mrs MORGANTINI, along with the Chairman and Deputy Chairperson, as group coordinators. They would each be assigned to and coordinate observation activities in designated areas on election day. There followed an exchange of views with Mr ROCARD on the situation in Palestine and the working environment and methodology of the EU EOM.
Programme of the election observation mission(*)