Democracy Support and Election Coordination Group

- Annual Report 2017 - (8th Legislature) Democracy Support and Election Coordination Group

- Annual Report 2017 -

CONTENTS

I. Introduction and way forward

II. Election observation activities

III. Parliamentary capacity building in third countries

IV. Pre-accession activities

V. Sakharov Prize Network and human rights action

VI. Mediation and dialogue

VII. International events and conferences on democracy

Annexes

1. Members of the Democracy Support and Election Coordination Group (DEG)

2. Lead members on DEG priority countries/regions

3. Organigramme of the Directorate for Democracy Support in 2017

4. Implementation of the 2017 work programme as endorsed by DEG

- 2 - I. Introduction and way forward

The Democracy Support and Election Coordination Group’s activities in 2017, the mid-term year of the legislature, were in full swing. The need for the continued DEG support and its great added value in the field of human rights and democracy support, were one of the main messages of the European Parliament’s Annual Report on Human Rights and Democracy in the World adopted in December 2017.

It was an eventful year for election observation. Besides carrying out eleven successful election observation delegations, DEG also managed to address a reoccurring structural issue - concerning biased/non-objective/unofficial observation by parliamentarians - by adopting "DEG Criteria for MEPs participating in election observation delegations". Furthermore, the establishment of a Joint Code of Conduct with the four assemblies observing in the OSCE area was considered, with the final Code to be adopted by the Group in 2018. Finally, the challenges and questions which the Kenyan elections in August brought to the fore (including possible repercussions for international observers), triggered a serious “rethink” of the future of election observation, including consideration of the growing role of technology. A DEG election observation conference on the various electoral issues would thus be organised in 2018, with the participation of representatives of EU national parliaments and international organisations.

Democracy support activities have been carried out with nine priority countries (Ukraine, Moldova, Tunisia, Myanmar, Georgia, Peru, Nigeria, Morocco and Tanzania), one priority regional parliament (Pan-African Parliament), and one priority region (Western Balkans and Turkey) - most of which have been reconfirmed as priorities until the end of the legislature. Besides the regular DEG activities (of incoming study visits and fellows and “outgoing” capacity-building seminars/conferences), the Group organised a number of significant large- scale events. These included the Tunisia week in May (bringing some 50 MPs and civil servants from Tunisia’s Assembly of the People’s Representatives to Brussels), the multilateral seminar on the “Legislative Cycle” in June (with the participation of more than 60 Committee Chairs from the DEG priority countries), the International Day of Democracy in September, as well as the active participation in the various events and meetings of the EP African Week in November of some 50 parliamentarians from DEG’s African priority parliaments.

The growing political interest and recognised added-value in complementing other DEG’s democracy support activities, led to a further development of a wide-range of parliamentary mediation and dialogue activities, including inter-party dialogue and consensus building, prevention of election-related violence, parliamentary support to conflict prevention and peace processes as well as the EP Young Political Leaders Programme. Prominent examples of such activities carried out in 2017 include the case of Ukraine (where the Parliament, in parallel to its full array of democracy support and capacity building activities, continued the implementation of the newly established concept of Jean Monnet Dialogues), the successful mediation by Commissioner Hahn and three Members of the European Parliament in the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (which led to the establishment of a new Government in May 2017), the development of a new methodology focusing on pre-election violence prevention as a complementary soft tool to the EU Election Observation Missions (used for the first time in Kenya), as well as deepening activities in the extended EU’s Neighbourhood and Western Balkans under the Young Political Leaders Programme.

- 3 - The EP Mediation Support Service has thus been upgraded and established as a unit to continue building up on the above-mentioned innovative concepts and methodology and responding to an increasing demand for support in the area of parliamentary mediation, facilitation of dialogue and conflict prevention.

In 2017 DEG stepped up its democracy support activities in the Western Balkans thus responding to the EU policy shift in favour of this priority region with the aim to facilitate the accession process. “The High-Level Round Table on the European integration process in regional perspective” was held in November bringing together for the first time leaders of political groups in the Western Balkan parliaments. A significant political exchange with relevant MEPs - rapporteurs, shadow rapporteurs and delegation chairs took place.

DEG’s engagement in human rights over the year was active and constant. DEG was involved in providing support to the laureates, including via silent diplomacy. Actions with Sakharov laureates, fellows and human rights defenders helped raise EP’s effectiveness and renown in this area. Participation of numerous Members, including the President, Vice- presidents, AFET, DEVE and DROI Chairs, highlighted strong political ownership and contributed to high visibility of such action. A Sakharov week in December saw the solemn awarding of the Prize to Venezuela’s Democratic Opposition and full programmes for the laureates and finalists and wide media coverage, depicting the EP engagement and laureates’ causes. Regular monitoring of the situation of the laureates enabled to react on time, with specific action on Denis Mukwege’s security and Raif Badawi’s imprisonment. The Sakharov Fellowship is now well-established and highly appreciated by Members and participants. Its second edition was successful and increased the visibility of EP in key third countries; a growing network of fellows now complements the activities of the Sakharov network. DEG was also involved in communicating via EPIO offices in Member States, where well-assisted events with Members and laureates in EU capitals widened the impact of the Sakharov Prize; with a Sakharov photo book and campaign as a major promotion tool and an exhibition which will tour the Member States in 2018.

The human rights action conducted by the DEG gained momentum this year, raising the awareness among parliamentarians from third countries, in particular from the priority countries, to help to mainstream human rights into legislation, but also to build networks with human rights defenders and support civil society representatives in dialogue with national parliaments (Moldova, Morocco, Nigeria, Ukraine) and authorities. An inter-parliamentary meeting on “Women’s economic empowerment” helped to strengthen international dimension involving parliamentarians from EU members states and neighbourhood countries and a conference co-organised with OSCE/ODHIR on “Strengthening Regional human rights defenders” allowed the EP to build new networks in neighbourhood countries.

David McAllister Linda McAvan

- 4 - II. Election observation activities

The EP observes elections in accordance with the Declaration of Principles for International Election Observation, including its Code of Conduct for International Election Observers.

In 2017 the EP sent 11 delegations to observe elections: four in the framework of OSCE/ODIHR missions in Armenia, Albania, Mongolia and Kyrgyzstan and seven in the framework of European Election Observation Missions (EU EOMs) in Timor Leste (presidential and parliamentary), Kosovo, Gambia, Kenya, Honduras and Nepal. The delegations worked successfully alongside other international election monitoring organisations and, as usual, were fully integrated into the long-term EU Election Observation Missions (EU EOM) or, in the OSCE area, in joint International Election Observation Missions (IEOM).

 Timor Leste - Presidential Elections - 20 March 2017

The seven member EP delegation observed the Presidential Elections in Timor Leste on 20 March 2017. The delegation was chaired by Anna Gomes (S&D, Portugal). The Presidential Elections were the first to take place without international assistance since Timorese independence in 2002. The presence of an EU EOM was very much appreciated by the authorities and the population.

The EP delegation met six of the eight presidential candidates, including Francisco Guterres (aka "Lu-Olo", FRETILIN candidate) and Antonio da Conceiçao (Democratic Party candidate, Minister for Education). The Delegation also met with: Prime Minister Rui Maria de Araújo; Aderito Hugo da Costa, Speaker of the National Assembly; Sakharov Prize laureate and former President and former Prime Minister "Xanana" Gusmao; Nobel Peace Prize winner and former President and former Prime Minister José Ramos-Horta; heads of the election administrations, with the Bishop of Baucau; and with representatives from civil society. Prior to the official start of the programme, the Chair and one other member attended the only televised debate between the eight candidates. The Head of the EU delegation in Dili attended high level meetings in the programme and offered a dinner to the MEPs while the EP delegation hosted a dinner for the EU Ambassador, the Portuguese Ambassador and the Chief Observer.

On Election Day, the EP delegation split into three teams, travelling to Liquica, Manatuto and Baucau. All teams observed closing in Dili. Despite the fact that eight candidates could run, the main contest was between Lu-Olo (supported by former President Xanana Gusmao) and Antonio da Conceiçao. The preliminary results showed a decisive victory for Lu-Olo with 59% of the vote, and Antonio da Conceiçao with 30% of the vote (57% and 32% respectively for final count). No other candidate obtained more than 3% of the vote, and the turnout was 77.16%. Given these results, no second round was organised.

Overall, the elections were peaceful and well organised. The election administration generally worked smoothly and transparently at all levels. Many polling station officials were young people and around half were women. However, concerns remain over the inadequate regulation of political party financing, in particular the lack of transparency over the sources of the funding which could lead to foreign interference in the political process. Access to the media was unbalanced, with a potentially detrimental effect on independent candidates and those from small parties.

- 5 -  Armenia - Parliamentary Elections - 2 April 2017

A six member delegation, led by Ms Heidi Hautala (Greens/EFA, Finland), observed in the framework of an International EOM (IEOM) the legislative elections held on 2 April, working closely with the OSCE/ODIHR, the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly and the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe. These elections were the first held after the 2015 revision of the Constitution, which enshrined reforms allowing Armenia to move from a semi-presidential to a parliamentary political system, with the reduction of the powers of the president in favour of the prime minister and the parliament. The electoral system, as well, was changed from a majoritarian one to a largely proportional system.

The EP delegation met with representatives of most political parties, media, and civil society. The main concerns expressed in such meetings were allegations of possible vote-buying, pressure on public sector personnel, and, more generally, intimidation of voters. On the other hand, President Sargsyan and Minister of Foreign Affairs Nalbandyan, both met by the EP Delegation, insisted on the measures taken to safeguard the secrecy of the vote, with the installation of video cameras in polling stations and of biometric devices to check the data of each voter - with EU support.

A mostly calm and peaceful Election day allowed Members to observe voting in the capital and several regions of the country (Kotayk, Ararat and Armavir). Elections were well administered and the EP teams were generally appreciative of the polling station staff who made strong efforts to ensure a smooth process. However, EP teams also observed local party representatives interfering in the electoral process from the opening to the counting, noting how they made their presence felt on the voters. While this may have been an isolated and extreme incident, one EP team witnessed severe irregularities in a hospital - very clearly seeing how doctors and election administration staff ensured that the patients voted for one same party, even when they had initially chosen another candidate.

Such shortcomings were, thus, reflected in the preliminary findings which were issued by the IEOM, to which the EP Delegation fully subscribed, and which noted that while fundamental freedoms were generally respected, the elections were tainted by credible information about vote-buying and by pressure on civil servants and employees of private companies. This contributed to an overall lack of public confidence and trust in the elections.

Final result saw the victory of the Republican Party of Armenia (49.15%), followed by the Tasurkyan Alliance (27,36%), the Yelk Coalition (7.79%) and the Armenian Revolutionary Federation (6,57%). With no other party making the threshold, the RPA and the ARF formed, with 65 seats, the “stable majority” foreseen by the new Constitution (58+7 seats out of a total of 105).

Looking forward, the EP delegation stated that ensuring the Armenian voters’ confidence in future election processes remained essential: EU support, as well as civil society involvement, was key in that respect. Political dialogue, as foreseen by the relevant provisions of the EU-Armenia Comprehensive Enhanced Partnership Agreement, could therefore be an opportunity to address these shortcomings and remind of the value of the findings of the Final OSCE/ODIHR report, and of the need to address pending recommendations.

- 6 -  Gambia - Parliamentary Elections - 6 April 2017

A six member EP delegation, led by Jean Lambert (Greens/EFA, UK), observed the legislative elections in Gambia on 6 April. These elections were the first parliamentary elections to be conducted in a democratic environment following the defeat of former President Jammeh at the December 2016 presidential elections. The Delegation was thus integrated in the first ever fully-fledged EU election observation mission in the country.

Meetings were held with representatives of the parties forming part of Coalition 2016, the former ruling party APRC and the GDC, the chairman of the Independent Election Commission, the director of the Gambia Radio and Television Services, representatives of civil society and with the ministers in charge of justice and trade matters.

On Election Day, the EP delegation split into three teams covering the West Coast and Banjul/Kanifing. Despite a highly imperfect electoral system inherited from the past regime and tight time constraints, the conduct of the elections was found to be held in a commendable manner. All teams reached similar conclusions noting the strict respect of procedures, the peaceful and positive atmosphere among voters, polling station staff and representatives of the candidates as well as the large presence of young people among polling officials and party representatives.

Despite the high number of candidates and the risk of fragmentation of votes, the clear winner of these elections was the United Democratic Party (UDP) winning 31 seats of the 53 directly elected seats in Parliament. The other parties of the Coalition 2016 were also represented in Parliament with the PPP (2 seats), the PDOIS (4 seats) and the NRP (5 seats). The former ruling party APRC and the GDC won 5 seats each while only one independent candidate had been elected. Unfortunately, only 20 women competed for the elections out of 239 candidates, with only two women finally being elected.

The delegation particularly insisted on the important role to be played by the newly elected Parliament in the transition process and in the new balance of power. In this context, at the end of 2017 DEG decided to include as part of its Work Programme for 2018 two study visits in early 2018 to Brussels for parliamentarians and staff of the Gambian Parliament, as a way to reinforce their capacities.

 Kosovo - Parliamentary Elections - 11 June 2017

The six member delegation, led by Igor Šoltes (Greens/EFA, Slovenia), observed the snap elections called in mid-May by President Thaçi, within a fully-fledged EOM which was deployed within a few days (a record for all EU Institutions).

Kosovo President unfortunately chose the shortest possible timeframe permitted by the electoral code (1 month) to organise this election, which clearly impacted the work of the election management body. This also shed light on longstanding problems that the authorities have failed to address and that had been included in the previous recommendations (accuracy of voters' list, possibility to vote from outside of Kosovo, transparency of the campaign financing, interference in the media etc.).

Meetings were held with the main stakeholders, i.e. President Thaçi, acting Prime Minister Mustafa, the leaders of the main political forces, and potential Prime Ministers (Kadri Veseli (acting Speaker) for PDK, Ramush Haradinaj for AAK, Albin Kurti for Vetëvendosje, - 7 - Avdullah Hoti for LDK), with the representatives of the media and civil society, and with the Head of EU Office / EUSR and Heads of EU Missions. During these meetings, and beside the exchanges on the preparations of the elections, the state of EU-Kosovo relations was raised, offering some of the interlocutors the opportunity to express dissatisfaction with the perceived disinterest and decreasing involvement of the EU in the country and the region, and to comment on steps to be taken for the visa free regime to be in place.

Notwithstanding the above mentioned challenges, E-day was calm and generally well administered without incidents. Despite pressures and intimidations during the campaign between candidates / lists running for the 10 seats reserved for the Serb minority, no major incidents occurred. Despite fears fuelled by some parties, the number of busses chartered by Belgrade to bring hundreds of eligible voters from Serbia to the Northern part of Kosovo was rather contained, with limited impact on the elections in the region.

The PAN coalition (including the Democratic Party of Kosovo, the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo and the Initiative for Kosovo) won 39 seats out of 100 (the 20 remaining seats being reserved for representatives from the minorities), allowing their candidate to be appointed Prime Minister, while Vetëvendosje won 32 seats and the LAA coalition (including Democratic League of Kosovo, the Alternative and the New Kosovo Alliance) - 29 seats.

Besides the question of pressure and intimidation on candidates and on voters in some parts of the country, the delegation insisted on the consequences of the low record of implementation of the recommendations from the previous elections (notably the timeframe necessary to prepare election, the financing of the political campaign, and the independence of the media from all interference - public or private).

 Albania - Parliamentary Elections - 25 June 2017

A six member EP delegation led by Eduard Kukan (EPP, Slovakia), observed the parliamentary elections in Albania on 25 June 2017. Following a three month political stand- off between the Socialist (SP) and Democratic (DP) parties, the political agreement to hold elections was considered by the EP delegation to be a positive step as it allowed for the participation of the main opposition party. Nevertheless, the delegation was also concerned that flaws in the agreement had led to selective and inconsistent application of the electoral law and had reduced public trust in the electoral process.

Meetings were held with the leaders of all three main political parties (PM Rama (SP), Lulzin Basha (DP) and Speaker and President-elect Ilir Meta Socialist Movement for Integration (SMI), which were arranged via the EU Delegation. The OSCE/ODIHR addressed representatives of political parties, the media and civil society.

On Election Day the EP delegation split into three teams covering the Tirana, Durres/Elbasan and Vlora regions. MEPs observed no significant problems and commended the generally peaceful atmosphere, although they commented on the (possibly threatening) presence of groups of party activists near polling stations. However their generally positive conclusions about Election Day were not fully in line with the OSCE/ODIHR’s findings that there had been a large number of procedural irregularities with a statistically significant number of polling stations being marked as "bad" (6%) or "very bad" (1%).

The ruling SP won 74 of the 140 seats in Parliament with the DP winning 43 seats and the SMI winning 19 seats.

- 8 -  Mongolia - Presidential Elections (1st round) - 26 June 2017

Five members, led by Laima Andrikiene (EPP, Lithuania) and joining forces with the OSCE/ODIHR and a delegation from the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, participated in the International EOM (IEOM) which observed the 26 June Presidential Elections in Mongolia (1st round).

Before Election Day, the OSCE/ODIHR core team experts extensively briefed the EP delegation; the programme also included meetings with media representatives, NGOs, the electoral administration and with representatives of political parties. Electoral law was seen as addressing some previous recommendations such as the decriminalisation of defamation and the elimination of overlapping jurisdiction between election commissions and courts. However, other long-standing recommendations remaining unaddressed included issues such as the disproportionate limitations to the right to be elected: the 3 political parties of the State Great Khural were thus the only ones allowed to field candidates.

Additional bilateral meetings with Minister of Foreign Affairs Mr Tsend Munkh-Orgil and Ms Navaan-Yunden Oyndari, Chair of the EU-Mongolia interparliamentary group of the State Great Khural, allowed the Mongolian side to explain the “third neighbour” approach and to stress the need to see new impetus given to the development of EU-Mongolia relations; both sides welcomed the imminent opening of a resident EU Delegation in Ulan Bator as a further sign of mutual engagement.

On Election Day, the EP Delegation was deployed in the capital city Ulaan Baatar, in Zuumod and in Darkhan, with the three EP teams visiting more than 50 polling stations, both in urban and rural areas. Members, generally, noted that voting took place in a calm and peaceful manner and were impressed by the good functioning of the biometric identification equipment and ballot scanners; the common appreciation of Members was that Political parties had contested in a genuine competitive and well-organised competition. This was recognised by the statement of preliminary findings of the IEOM, which also welcomed the fact that freedoms of assembly and expression had generally been respected; on the other hand, it was also underlined that the protracted resolution of complaints as well as pending court cases (often linked to corruption allegations), had led to uncertainty regarding candidacies, causing confusion, with voters not knowing up until very E-day whether courts would invalidate candidacies.

The election results of the 1st round on 26 June saw no candidate securing an absolute majority, with Khaltmaa Battulga (Democratic Party), with 38,11%, and M. Miyeegombyn Engkbohld (Mongolian People’s Party), with 30,32%, making it to the second round. This was the first time a run-off had to be organised in the country, and procedures proved to lack clarity, with the General Electoral Commission deciding, in an emergency session, to move the second round date to 7 July. This deadline proved to be too short for the two Parliamentary Assemblies (OSCE PA and EP) to re-deploy observation teams1.

1 The 2nd round was, however, observed by the OSCE/ODIHR EOM long term mission which remained on the ground, and thus witnessed the victory of M. Battulga with 55,15% (with a lower turnout of 60%, when compared to the 68% of the first round). - 9 - While the EP Delegation Chair stressed that the overall campaign narrative had discouraged voters, especially the youth, from voting, she also emphasised that the EU placed great importance on its partnership with Mongolia, based on a joint respect for common values. Mongolia’s willingness to engage under the EU’s special incentive for sustainable development and good governance (GSP+) was also noted; it was thus hoped that the shortcomings identified as to the implementation of some ICCPR provisions would be tackled in this framework.

 Timor Leste- Parliamentary Elections - 22 July 2017

As this was the case for the presidential elections in March, the four member EP delegation was chaired by Ms Ana Gomes (S&D, Portugal). The elections were organised and took place in an orderly and well-administered manner, and no major issues regarding their preparation and conduct were raised by the observers. It is worth noting that several recommendations following the presidential elections in March had been implemented, which demonstrates the willingness and dedication of the Timorese authorities to improve the overall electoral process.

Amongst others, the EP delegation held meetings with the Presidents / representatives of the main political parties running (CNRT, Fretilin, PLP and PD), with Prime Minister Araùjo, with representatives of the election administration (CNE and STAE), with representatives from civil society, and with former Presidents and former Prime Ministers Xanana Gusmao and José Ramos-Horta.

On E-day, the delegation split into two teams travelling to Aileu and to Gleno and Liquiça, where both teams observed peaceful, orderly and well-administered voting with high participation (76%). The outcome showed an unexpected tie between the two main outgoing ruling parties (with less than 0,2% difference): Fretilin (party of President Lu-Olo and Prime Minister Araujo) and the CNRT (party of Xanana Gusmao), with respectively 23 and 22 seats each, out of 65. Out of the 21 political parties competing, only three other parties passed the 4% threshold (raised from 3% compared to the last parliamentary elections), the PLP (8 seats), the PD (7 seats), and Khunto (5 seats).

At the press conference, and besides commending the preparation and the conduct of the elections, the delegation raised the issues of insufficient transparency of financing of political parties, of the need for fair access to media, gender equality, and necessary investment in sustainable development and in young people.

 Kenya - General Elections - 8 August 2017

A seven member EP delegation, led by David McAllister (EPP, Germany), observed the General elections in Kenya on 8 August. Meetings were held with the President and Commissioners of the Electoral Commission, the Chief Justice, representatives of the political parties (including the opposition candidate Raila Odinga (representing the National Super Alliance - NASA - coalition) and the Speaker of the Kenyan National Assembly Justin Muturi (representing Jubilee)), the media, religious leaders, civil society, other international observation delegations. Extensive briefings were made by HoMs, EU EOM Core Team (led by Chief Observer Marietje Schaake), the EU Special Representative for the Horn of Africa, as well as lead analysts on Kenya and the region.

- 10 - The EP delegation split into three teams covering the capital city, and the strategic areas Kajiado and Naivasha. All teams reached similar conclusions - in a high stakes, polarised and competitive electoral contest, Kenyans came out in large numbers on Election Day and acted with patience, determination and enthusiasm in peacefully exercising their democratic rights. The staff at the polling stations visited acted professionally and transparently. The preparations for the elections however were conducted under tight deadlines, with a high degree of reliance on controversial IT systems, and in a highly tense environment where the main parties forcefully criticised key public institutions.

The day after voting, the opposition cried foul, issuing a press statement that the election IT systems had been hacked and the election results fundamentally compromised, thus questioning the integrity of the electoral process. The final results were announced by the IEBC on 11 August, according to which Mr Kenyatta (incumbent) won the elections with 54.3% of the vote to Mr Odinga with 44.7% share of the vote. International observers unanimously called on political leaders to act responsibly, to pursue any complaints through legal dispute mechanisms and to ensure their supporters remained calm. Following a petition by Mr Odinga, on 1 September the Supreme Court of Kenya declared the result of the Presidential election as “invalid, null and void”. The re-run of the Presidential elections thus took place on 26 October. It was boycotted by the opposition, and Mr Kenyatta won with 98% of the vote on a turnout of only 39%.

The EP Delegation was on stand-by to observe the re-run. The delegation however was cancelled at the last moment in view of the tense security situation in the country. The EP delegation and the DEG stayed in regular contact with Chief Observer Schaake and the EOM on the ground (which observed the entire electoral process in Kenya) and closely monitored the developments in Kenya, keeping it high on its agenda for possible post-electoral activities in 2018.

 Kyrgyzstan - Presidential Elections - 15 October 2017

A six member EP delegation led by Laima Andrikiene (EPP, Lithuania), observed the Presidential Elections on 15 October 2017. The elections saw the first orderly transfer of power from one elected candidate to another in Kyrgyz history.

Meetings took place between the EEAS and EU HoMs and representatives from the main candidates, media and civil society. Bilateral meetings with Kyrgyz authorities also took place including Prime Minister Sapar Isakov and Minister of Foreign Affairs Erlan Abdyldayev with both meetings focussing on EU-Kyrgyz relations and on developments in the region. On Election Day the EP delegation split into three teams covering the Bishkek, Kara Balta and Balykchy regions. Voting was assessed as bad or very bad in 6% of the approximately 1100 polling booths observed by the IEOM and counting was, reportedly, significantly more problematic. The presence of police in many polling stations was noted, although there was no evidence of clear interference. Issues of access for disabled voters was also noted.

Contrary to many expectations, Sooronbay Jeenbekov (Social Democratic Party) won the elections outright with 54% of the vote and there was therefore no need for a second round. His main opponent, Omurbek Babanov (ResPublika but running as an independent) obtained 33.75% and conceded defeat on 16 October, without congratulating the winner, and

- 11 - highlighting factors such as the abuse of administrative resources and pressure on voters. There was, however, a high abstention rate of around 45%. The elections were competitive with a wide choice of candidates who were generally able to campaign freely. During the campaign, TV debates between the candidates contributed to political pluralism. While there was no violence observed on Election Day, a number of serious problems persisted. There was evidence that the Central Commission for Election was biased in favour of the eventual winner in its adjudication of disputes, particularly in the last days of the campaign. There were also credible reports of misuse of public resources, pressure on voters and vote buying. Media freedom was strained, with evidence of self- censorship and national legislation at odds with the country’s international commitments. During the campaign, a number of arrests of opposition politicians and of their supporters took place, with outgoing President Atambayev threatening, on Election Day that the trend would continue. It was also noted there is a need to follow up of the implementation of the existing long-standing OSCE/ODIHR recommendations, several of which had not been addressed.

 Honduras - General Elections - 26 November 2017

A delegation of five MEPs with José Inácio Faria (EPP, Portugal) in the Chair, observed the General Election on 26 November 2017. The situation was extremely tense, with outbreaks of violence and the death of at least 17 people in the protests that followed the election.

Prior to the election, the EP Delegation met with the principal candidates Luis Zelaya (Partido Liberal), Salvador Nasralla (Alianza de Oposición) and Juan Orlando Hernández (Partido Nacional, and incumbent president) and political parties (Alianza de Oposición). Meetings were also held with the Supreme Electoral Tribunal (Tribunal Supremo Electoral), election observation organizations, civil society organizations, the EU mission Chief Observer and the EU Head of Delegation and ambassadors of France, Germany and Spain to Honduras. The President of the Delegation and the Chief Observer met with the OAS.

On Election Day, the EP Delegation split into three teams covering the capital city and rural areas in Tegucigalpa, Valle de los Ángeles, Santa Ana y Santa Lucía. These areas include regions with high levels of ethnic minorities (Lenca). Election Day was peaceful overall, and there were no remarkable security or logistical incidents. Women were particularly involved in the process, a high number of them participating in the management of the polling stations.

The partial results gave a five point lead to Nasralla. With 83% of votes tabulated, President Hernadez had a lead of 0.1% at which point both candidates declared victory. According to the electoral court’s official count, almost three weeks after the vote, President Hernández won with 42.95% to 41.42% for runner-up Nasralla. The Opposition alleged election fraud and the results prompted widespread unrest.

While E-Day itself was peaceful, the days and weeks that followed were very tense. A high number of recommendations made by the 2013 European Union EOM were not implemented, in particular around reform of the electoral system. The Supreme Electoral Tribunal (Tribunal Supremo Electoral) performance was particularly poor; the first advance of results was delayed, and, transmission of scrutiny data was delayed a number of times in spite of the election infrastructure, which was said to allow for instant communication.

- 12 -  Nepal - Parliamentary Elections - 26 November 2017 and 7 December 2017 i) First phase:

The elections in Nepal took place in two stages - on 26 November in the 32 constituencies in the more mountainous districts and on 7 December in the remaining 45 constituencies.

A delegation of seven MEPs led by Neena Gill (S&D, UK) observed the first phase of the Parliamentary elections in Nepal on 26 November 2017. The EP delegation met leaders or representatives of most of the main political parties. Meetings also took place with representatives of the election administration, civil society, the media and other international observers and the EU Heads of Missions present in Kathmandu. Discussion in the meetings indicated that there was broad support among the interlocutors for a strengthening of the EU- Nepal relationship.

The EP delegation split into three teams, travelling to Nuwakot, Chautara and Gorkha. In general MEPs were content with the conduct of the election, however on a number of occasions they were prevented from properly observing proceedings by police or polling station officials. They made a strong request that the EOM should request action by the Central Election Commission to ensure that this was not repeated during the second phase. There was no counting of ballots until after the second phase.

Overall, the first phase of the elections passed without significant violence and polling generally ran smoothly with only relatively minor irregularities. Despite the generally peaceful environment, a dissident Maoist group detonated a number of improvised explosive devices. The decision of the Nepalese Central Election Commission to remove the accreditation of two long-term observers - for "inappropriate” behaviour (something rejected by the EOM) - created difficulties for the EOM and had an impact on the perception of the duty and role of international observers.

(ii) Second phase

For the second phase of the mission on 7 December 2017, Neena Gill led the EP Delegation of six MEPs; four of whom had been present in the first phase and two were new. Meetings took place with leaders or representatives of most of the main political parties whom the delegation had not managed to meet during the first phase. Further meetings also took place with representatives of civil society and other international observers. As no results had been announced following the first phase, the meetings focussed on the general political environment. On E-Day, the EP delegation split into three teams, travelling to Kathmandu/Lalitpur, Pokhara and Dhangadhi. In general MEPs were more content than they had been on 26 November with the conduct of the election, in particular they welcomed the fact that there were fewer instances of being prevented by police or polling station officials from properly observing proceedings. There was no possibility to observe counting which started after they had left their areas of deployment and took place over eight days.

Overall, the second phase took place in a broadly peaceful environment without large scale violence and intimidation. Polling generally ran smoothly with only relatively minor irregularities. Fewer restrictions had been placed on the observers in the second Election Day. There was more generally a continuing lack of understanding by some members of the Nepalese administration about the role and duties of international observers, which continued to cause some difficulties for the EOM.

- 13 - III. Parliamentary capacity building in third countries

At the end of 2014 DEG agreed on a global concept for the development of EP democracy support activities, named the Comprehensive Democracy Support Approach (CDSA). The main objective is to ensure that all EP parliamentary support activities are carried out in a coherent and complementary manner, to be achieved by focusing as much as possible on providing EP assistance and resources to a limited number of countries.

In December 2016, on the basis of the activities conducted so far and their impact, the elections that the European Parliament observed, and the commitment of the EP partners, the DEG decided to update the list of priority countries for 2017 by reconfirming four countries (Ukraine, Moldova, Tunisia and Myanmar) and a priority regional parliament (Pan-African Parliament), adding three countries to the priority list (Georgia, Peru, and Nigeria), putting on stand-by activities in Morocco and Tanzania (where a limited number of activities would be carried out), and organising pre- and post-electoral activities with a limited number of other countries (Sri Lanka, Jordan, Kenya). In this context, activities in 2017 were carried our as follows.

 Ukraine Lead Member: Elmar Brok

In the framework of the Needs Assessment Mission conducted by former EP President Pat Cox in September 2015-February 2016, a Memorandum of Understanding between the EP President and the Speaker of the Verkhovna Rada and an Administrative Cooperation Agreement between the two Secretary Generals were signed. Both documents have been renewed in 2017 until the end of the EP 8th Legislature. In their framework, and with a view to implementing the roadmap and the recommendations contained in the EP Needs Assessment Mission Report in 2016, two parallel tracks have been implemented: a political and an administrative one.

The political dimension aims at delivering activities directed at MPs in coordination with other international actors and donors, notably the UNDP and the EU funded “Rada za Evropu” project. A mediation and consensus building process known as the Jean Monnet Dialogues was also put in place to facilitate decision making on the reform of the Verkhovna Rada, and two meetings took place in 2017. They focused on concrete decisions to be taken for specific recommendations (see chapter VI below).

The administrative dimension foresees the provision of expertise, guidance, staff exchanges and study visits. In 2016 and 2017, five study visits from officials of the Verkhovna Rada and six missions from EP officials have been conducted in the field of human resources, legislative planning, calendar setting, research, IT, and communication.

 Moldova Lead Member: Petras Auštrevičius

A study visit for senior officials of the Parliament of Moldova took place in May/June 2017 in cooperation with the UNDP. The visit covered the workings of the General Secretariat, in particular the Directorates General for Internal and External Policies and the Legal Service. It focussed on activities in the standing committees and plenary: document flow; communication/cooperation/coordination of the administrators in the secretariat with MEPs and their assistants in the legislative process; briefings on the work of committees (draft - 14 - agenda, meeting documents, votes, minutes, calendar, support analyses) and documentation transmission to the plenary services.

The EP also hosted a Democracy Fellow who was seconded from the Moldovan Parliament in May/June 2017 and who assisted both the DEAC and the Euronest Units. Moldovan MPs also participated in the seminar on the legislative cycle in June 2017. Support to the dialogue between the Parliament in Chisinau and the Assembly in Comrat continued with a study visit to Brussels in November 2017 of the “Parliamentary Working Group on the functioning of the Autonomous Territorial Unit of Gagauzia within the constitutional framework and the legal provisions of the Republic of Moldova” (see chapter VI).

 Tunisia Lead Member: Michael Gahler

The Tunisian week, held in Brussels on 2-4 May under the leadership of Michael Gahler, lead member, was undoubtedly the key event taking place in terms of capacity building since Tunisia was included as a priority country by the DEG. Former EP President Enrique Baron Crespo had previously prepared the ground, with a fact finding visit to Tunis in February 2017 allowing to identify the priority areas to be subsequently discussed.

During the Tunisian Week, the EP therefore hosted a large delegation of 52 parliamentarians and 12 officials in total, from the Assemblée des Représentants du Peuple (ARP), led by its President, M. Mohammed Ennaceur, for a full three-day programme: high-level talks with President Tajani, MEPs and representatives from other EU institutions, including HRVP Mogherini, took place. Key issues identified by the ARP, such as parliamentary groups, relations between executive and legislature, gender issues, the role of parliamentarians in strengthening transparency (also from an anti-corruption perspective), law-making in the framework of negotiating international agreements, the role of women in politics (together with the Women Forum) and parliamentary relations with civil society were also debated at length. Political group leaders, from both the EP and the ARP, also participated in dedicated roundtables, co-chaired by the Presidents of both Houses and a series of side-events gave extra visibility to Tunisia’s cultural and artistic assets. The programme was supplemented by a Young Political Leaders seminar, which included participants from the HRVP’s “Young MED Voices Plus initiative” implemented by the Anna Lindh Foundation (see chapter VI).

Other activities organised later in the year included meetings with the Tunisian Conseil Supérieur de la Magistrature (CSM), which visited Brussels in November, meeting a number of MEPs, and the participation of a 7-strong Tunisian Delegation to the African week the EP hosted in 20-24 November, allowing Tunisian MPs to attend and participate in the Africa- related agenda items discussed in several Committees (notably DEVE, AFET, ENVI, LIBE, CULT) as well as in the High-Level Conference “Towards a renewed partnership with Africa”.

 Myanmar Lead Member: Judith Sargentini

In the light of the state of human rights in Rakhine State in Myanmar, which deteriorated seriously in the latter part of 2017, the EP democracy support programme is currently on hold. However, Myanmar is retained as a priority country and the situation will be reviewed in mid-2018.

- 15 - Previously, a study visit for MPs of the Myanmar Parliament took place in December 2016 focussing on the functioning of a modern multi-national parliament. In November/December 2016, two officials of the Myanmar Parliament (Democracy Fellows) were seconded to the EP and focussed on the operation of committees. In April 2017 a group of three MPs and three officials participated in a joint visit with Sri Lankan MPs covering the budgetary role of a modern parliament. Myanmar MPs also participated in the seminar on the legislative cycle in June 2017.

 Georgia Lead Member: Ana Gomes

Georgia was included in December 2016 on the list of priority countries for EP capacity building activities, following the 2016 parliamentary elections. In February 2017, Ana Gomes, lead member, undertook a fact finding mission to Tbilisi, and identified, jointly with the Georgian partners, the areas of activities: parliamentary oversight of the executive, the legislative process and the role and place of parliamentary committees, reinforcement of the capacities, women empowerment in politics and enhancing capacity of women legislators and the organisation of the Secretariat (notably analytical capacities of the Secretariat General, role and structure of parliamentary committees, and strategic communication).

In line with these indications, two visits have been organised in 2017. In June, three members of the Parliament attended the joint seminar on the legislative cycle. In September, a delegation of eight staff members, led by the Secretary General of the Parliament, paid a study visit focusing on research and analysis capacities (DG EPRS).

 Peru Lead Member: Renate Weber

Peru was included in December 2016 on the list of priority countries for EP capacity building activities, with EU Chief Observer (2016 general and presidential elections) Renate Weber being appointed lead member by the DEG for democracy support activities. Thus, in May 2017, Renate Weber undertook a fact-finding Mission to Lima. In this framework, a series of meetings with both the Congreso leadership (then President Luz Salgado) and administration allowed to identify possible areas of cooperation.

Subsequently, four Peruvian Congreso Committee Chairs, and Officials, participated in the joint seminar on the Legislative cycle hosted by the European Parliament in early June. While the Peruvian Congreso had warmly welcomed its inclusion in the CDSA list of priority countries, practical cooperation was however hindered by the quick rotation of its office- holders (one year mandates), which created complications in “institutional memory” grounds after new leadership took office in mid-2017. The Peruvian Congreso, thus, failed to propose candidates for the democracy fellowship offered by the EP - on the basis of the May talks - in the area of communications. In the short run, continuation of activities and cooperation is, thus, expected focus on activities/seminars taking place in Peru rather than in Brussels.

 Nigeria Lead Member: Santiago Fisas

Following the addition of Nigeria in 2017 to the DEG list of priority countries - and a fact- finding mission in early 2017 of lead member Santiago Fisas to the National Assembly of

- 16 - Nigeria (NASS) - a comprehensive programme of successful capacity-building activities was developed throughout the year. Most of the activities took place in Brussels, including participation of Nigerian legislators in the DEG high-level capacity building seminar on the “Legislative cycle” in June; a study visit to Brussels of women parliamentarians on “Women Empowerment in Politics in Enhancing Capacity of Women Legislators” in October; participation of Nigerian legislators in the African week in the EP in November; a study visit of Nigerian legislators to the EP on the role of parliament in the budget cycle and the oversight of the security sector in December.

In addition, a delegation of MEPs - lead by Santiago Fisas - took part in two joint EP-NASS seminars on “Inter-party relationship in the legislature” and on “Oversight and the Executive” in October in Abuja. On the Nigerian side, there was great interest in the discussions with more than 250 legislators (from the National Assembly and the 36 State Assemblies) actively participating. The programme included the Speaker of the NASS House of Representatives, the Minister of Budget and National Planning, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, the former Chairman of the Independent Electoral Commission. The Nigerian counterparts expressed a strong desire that such high-level EP-NASS seminar should become an Annual Event. The seminars also gave incredible visibility to, and raised awareness on, the EU.

 Morocco (limited number of activities) Lead Member: Pier Antonio Panzeri

In December 2016 the EU Court of Justice Grand Chamber set aside an earlier judgement of the EU Court of Justice on the EU-Morocco fisheries agreement, which allowed for cooperation to gradually resume. Delegations from the Chambre des Représentants, thus, participated in the following activities: - the seminar on the “Legislative Cycle - from legislative initiative to implementation and monitoring” which was held on 2-4 June in Brussels; - a dedicated exchange of views with the FEMM Committee, focusing on gender issues, which took place in the framework of the “African Week” on 20-23 November; - the overall “African Week”, with Moroccan MPs contributing with their insights as key speakers in the various panels which were organised.

At the same time, contacts with the French Assemblée Nationale, which is in charge of the EU twinning project, allowed to clear the ground in order for cooperation to continue with other activities (most likely to focus on the PETI Committee) to be organised in early 2018.

 Tanzania (limited number of activities) Lead Member: David Martin

Following a visit in early 2017 of the lead-MEP David Martin to the National Assembly in Dodoma, an EP capacity-building mission to Tanzania in May (as part of a joint DEG delegation to Kenya and Tanzania), as well as the participation of several members of the Tanzanian parliament in the DEG high-level capacity building seminar on the “Legislative cycle” in June, relations with the country have stalled. The situation in Tanzania gradually deteriorated throughout 2017, leading to the (not fatal) shooting of the opposition chief whip in Dodoma in September. Such circumstances made any further capacity building activities with the Tanzanian Parliament difficult.

- 17 -  Pan-African Parliament Lead Member: Michael Gahler

In November 2015, the DEG designated the Pan African Parliament (PAP) as a priority regional Parliament for democracy support activities. In Midrand in May 2016, the Chair of the EP/PAP Delegation, Michael Gahler, and the President of the PAP signed a declaration expressing their enthusiasm for the development of a structured and comprehensive programme of parliamentary capacity building. In this context, in late 2016 the European Commission (under the DCI Pan-African programme) established a project called “Strengthening of the Human Rights Systems in Africa”, which - amongst other things - provides support for EP-PAP capacity-building activities until mid-2019.

2017 has thus been a very successful year for democracy support activities with the PAP. Five visits - comprising some 75 representatives from the PAP (parliamentarians and staff) - were organised in the EP in Brussels. Best practices were shared on a wide range of topics such as agenda setting, organisation of the plenary, follow-up on resolutions and legislation adopted, election observation and mediation activities of a parliament, committee work, information technology for a paperless parliament, interpretation and translation, human resources, etc. 20 PAP parliamentarians participated actively in the DEG high-level capacity building seminar on the “Legislative cycle” in June and 12 parliamentarians (including the PAP Speaker Hon. Roger Nkodo Dang) took part in the European Parliament’s African Week in November. All these activities were fully coherent with and in the spirit of the EU-Africa Summit in November 2017, which triggered additional support for these exchanges to continue actively in 2018.

 Post-election countries

In some countries where the elections were observed by the European Parliament, cooperation and assistance were foreseen for the implementation of some specific recommendations or for the development of certain capacities of the Parliament. In such cases, post-election activities were organised under the leadership of the Chief Observer.

- Sri Lanka Ten members and two officials of the Parliament of Sri Lanka visited Brussels on a study visit in April 2017 focussing on the budgetary role of a modern parliament. The visit took place midway through the electoral cycle of the Sri Lankan Parliament following the 2015 elections which the EP observed and was focussed on a specific area that had been identified as a priority for the parliament. The visit was a joint event with a group of MPs from the Parliament of Myanmar.

- Jordan Ten officials from the House of Representatives of Jordan participated in a study visit which took place in the premises of the European Parliament in Brussels, on 11-14 December, with EP officials from 5 DGs sharing their expertise: a series of meetings on issues which were identified as priorities in capacity-building terms by the EU EOM Final Report (20 September 2016 elections) thus took place. These focused on issues such as the control of the execution of the budget and the discharge procedure (recommendation L4), the parliamentary questions mechanism, the role of political groups (recommendation L1), and on a series of specific points of interest to the Jordanian side (institutional communication and new technologies; electronic voting, legislative drafting, research; human resources management).

- 18 - IV. Pre-accession activities

In 2017 PAAC organised for the first time a high-level Round Table on the European Integration Process of the Western Balkans as well as six major conferences open to the civil society and the media, which brought together MEPs and MPs from the EU enlargement countries. Two of them were held in the region, while the other four took place in Brussels. In addition, a study visit was organized for the European Integration Committee of the Parliament of Montenegro. The Fellowship Programme, which was established in 2013, continued throughout 2017, enabling eight officials from the beneficiary parliaments to work in different services of the European Parliament for a period of up to six weeks.

Lead Member: Eduard Kukan

 High-level Round Table on the European Integration Process of the Western Balkans in a Regional Perspective (Brussels, 20-21 November 2017)

The European integration process requires from each country concerned substantial adjustments ranging from the legislative transposition of the acquis communautaire to its implementation, structural reforms and even changes to its political and societal culture. Each country’s evolution is judged upon its own merits, in particular via the mechanism of the European Commission’s annual reports. However, the regional dimension - cross-border cooperation, developing connectivity and sharing best practices - is an essential part of the integration process, which is often overlooked.

The Round Table gave a unique opportunity to focus on the regional dimension. This first-of- its-kind event, involving beyond MEPs and Western Balkan MPs young political leaders and EU national MPs sharing time across overlapping programmes, proved an overwhelming success with lively debates avoiding read-out speeches and official discourse.

The closed-door session on the first day, during which 22 MPs from the Western Balkans parliaments exchanged with the AFET standing rapporteurs and the relevant EP Delegation Chairs (10 MEPs present), allowed a particularly extensive and frank discussion including candid comments on the implementation of reforms and the political culture, in particular within the parliaments. Country-specific issues were discussed with the respective standing rapporteurs and delegation Chairs.

 Conferences

Local and regional authorities in the enlargement region and the EU regional policy (Brussels, 30-31 January 2017)

The inter-parliamentary conference, which was organized in cooperation with the Committee on Regional Development (REGI) and the Committee on Foreign Affairs (AFET), provided MEPs with the opportunity to debate with their counterparts from the Western Balkans and Turkey the role of the local and regional authorities in the EU enlargement process.

The conference focused on the support of the European Parliament for the strengthening of institutional and administrative capacities at local and regional level; ways to enhance the - 19 - role of local and regional authorities in the EU enlargement process; the EU regional policy, including the EU strategy for the Adriatic and Ionian region; and the role of the Committee of the Regions.

The conference was attended by 20 MPs from the Western Balkan countries and Turkey, Commissioner Johannes Hahn (for European Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations) as well as the following MEPs: Ms Iskra Mihaylova (ALDE, BG), Chair of the Committee on Regional Development, Mr Alojz Peterle (EPP, SL), Mr Franc Bogovič (EPP, SL), Mr Victor Boştinaru (S&D, RO), Mr Tonino Picula (S&D, HR), Mr Jens Nilsson (S&D, SE), Mr Ivan Jakovčić (ALDE, HR) and Ms Terry Reintke (Greens, DE).

Trans-European Networks policy and Connectivity Agenda (Pristina (Kosovo), 2-3 March 2017)

As of January 2014, the European Union has a new trans-European network policy, which includes the enlargement countries. The participants highlighted the need to close the gaps between transport networks, remove bottlenecks on the free movement of people, goods and services and overcome technical barriers. Extension of trans-European corridors in the Balkans is needed to integrate the region in the EU. So are digital connectivity, roaming and broad-band agreement, the development of skills and labour mobility, regional investment, good governance and a legislation supportive to business.

4 MEPs and 18 MPs from the pre-accession parliaments attended the conference which was organized in cooperation with AFET, TRAN and ITRE Committees and with the Regional Cooperation Council.

It was the first inter-parliamentary conference which was organised by the European Parliament in Kosovo. The Assembly of Kosovo made an extraordinary effort to organise the event in a most status neutral way (no national flags and emblems in the meeting room, only the EU flag, badges with names of participants only), thus respecting various positions on the status of Kosovo. Despite these precautions, in Bosnia and Herzegovina the representatives of 3 ethnic communities could not agree on sending a parliamentary delegation to Kosovo and in Serbia, the National Assembly, which was fully informed of those special arrangements, cancelled its participation only a few days before the conference.

Women’s Economic Empowerment: Let’s act together (Brussels, 8-9 March)

(See Chapter V)

Public procurement and parliament’s role in fight against corruption, fraud and mismanagement of public funds (Brussels, 2-3 May)

One of the most significant EP powers is to ensure that the Commission and the other institutions deal properly with European funds. In particular, it decides whether to grant the discharge, i.e. final approval of how the budget for a specific year has been implemented.

7 MEPs and 17 MPs from the pre-accession parliaments attended the conference which was organized in cooperation with IMCO, BUDG, CONT and INTA Committees, with a participation from OLAF and from the European Court of Auditors. - 20 - The conference presented the aforementioned aspects of the EP role in fighting corruption, fraud and mismanagement of public funds and proposed possible best practices to the parliaments of the enlargement region. The first half-day was devoted to the EU Public Procurement package and European Parliament’s input and scrutiny of public procurement, including a visit to a meeting of IMCO on the subject. The second half-day focused on the fight against corruption and mismanagement of public funds in public procurement.

The legislative cycle – from legislative initiative to implementation and monitoring (Brussels, 19-20 June) See Chapter VII.

Independent and modern public administration (Danilovgrad (Montenegro), 28-29 September)

An independent and efficient public administration is one of the most important EU accession criteria. The European Commission adopted an enhanced approach on public administration reform, as set out in the 2014-15 enlargement strategy. This approach anchors public administration reform as a pillar of the enlargement process, together with the rule of law and economic governance.

The conference, organised in cooperation with AFET Committee and the EU-sponsored Regional School for Public Administration with support from the Parliament of Montenegro, involved 6 MEPs and 18 MPs from 5 Enlargement parliaments covered all main aspects: public administration reform as one of the fundamentals of Enlargement Policy, the capacity of the state administration to assume the obligations of membership in the European Union being a key criterion in assessing the readiness of a candidate country; Public administration reform as a systemic, long-term process; Accountability and audit; How parliaments can foster public administration reform through their scrutiny role and cooperation with audit bodies – against a background of widespread lack of parliaments' political will to take autonomy from the Executive; depoliticisation and professionalisation of public administration; fighting corruption in the civil service; development of e-services.

 Study visit

Study visit by Members of the Parliament of Montenegro at the EP (21-22 March, Brussels)

A group of 6 Members of the Parliament of Montenegro's Committee on European Integration (including the Chairs of the Committees on International Relations and European Integration) and 2 staff members paid a study visit to the EP and other EU institutions in Brussels. The purpose of the visit was to better acquaint its participants with the work of the EU institutions.

The visitors met with 8 MEPs and attended the meeting of SEDE, which showcased the MEPs' involvement in issues that are relevant for Montenegro during these challenging times (Montenegrin accession to NATO and Russian interference).

 Pre-Accession Fellowship Programme 2017 - 21 - In 2017 PAAC hosted eight Pre-Accession Fellows for a period of up to six weeks. During their time in Brussels and Strasbourg the Fellows were placed in a service of the Secretariat General and were assigned to a mentor, who followed them closely and guided them. They also had the opportunity to attend relevant committee and delegation meetings as well as the plenary session. The Fellows came from the administration of the Parliaments of Albania, the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Kosovo and Montenegro. In order to reinforce the exchange of best practices and facilitate contacts between the former Fellows the use of a dedicated Pre - Accession Fellows Network was encouraged.

- 22 - V. Sakharov Prize Network and human rights action

Action conducted with the Sakharov Prize laureates, Sakharov fellows and human rights defenders (HRDs) helped raise the effectiveness, visibility and renown of EP in human rights activities. A growing network of fellows complements the activities of laureates and of the SPN. Participation of the EP President and many Members in Brussels, Strasbourg and in EU Member States highlighted strong political ownership for human rights action. In the field of human rights action interest increased for the study visits organised for parliamentarians from non-EU countries, with a very positive feedback received by DEG. 2017 saw a particular interest for visits focused on women’s rights.

 Sakharov Week 2017

The 2017 Sakharov Prize laureates perceived the Sakharov Prize as an encouragement for Venezuelans fighting for their rights and so to restore the democratic order in a country. The wide media coverage depicted the EP engagement in human rights and gave visibility to the laureates and their action. The 2017 Sakharov Prize ceremony made it to 115 news items across 20 countries. The news featured prominently in the press, online and AV media (more than 250 reports from both core and non-core European sources).

The Prize was awarded at a solemn session at the plenary on 13 December to the Democratic Opposition in Venezuela: National Assembly (represented by Julio Borges) and all political prisoners as listed by Foro Penal Venezolano (represented by Leopoldo López, Antonio Ledezma, Daniel Ceballos, Yon Goicoechea, Lorent Saleh, Alfredo Ramos and Andrea González). Parliament hosted Julio Borges, Leopoldo Lopez’ parents, Antonio Ledezma, Daniel Ceballos’ wife, Lorent Saleh’s mother, Alfredo Ramos’ lawyer, and Andrea Gonzalez’ sister for three days of meetings with EP President Antonio Tajani, AFET/DEVE/DROI, most of the political groups, the EuroLat and Mercosur Delegations, and interviews with major European and international media.

The finalist, Lolita Chavez and Bethlehem Isaak, the daughter of finalist Dawit Isaak, also attended the award ceremony and followed three-day programmes run in parallel, meeting a large number of MEPs. Lolita Chavez pledged the cause of indigenous communities in Guatemala and insisted on the EU’s moral obligation to act against violations of human rights inflicted by international companies. Betlehem Isaak advocated for continuous pressure on Eritrea by the EU for the release of her father who is a European citizen.

The laureates and finalists took part in seminars with hundreds of journalists and students. The well-established cooperation with the City of Strasbourg allowed the EP to co-organise a public debate on “S’opposer en démocratie, s’opposer pour la démocratie”. The exhibition They defend our freedoms – 30 years of Sakharov Prize was launched within Parliament, but also at ‘Lieu d'Europe’ and Strasbourg railway station. It draws on a new Sakharov photo book (see more below).

Antonio Ledezma and Patricia de Ceballos further participated in awareness-raising events organised with the local EP Information Offices in Luxembourg and Berlin involving MEP Viviane Reding and AFET Chair David McAllister. Thanks to the EP support, Patricia de Ceballos held also additional meetings with the Deputy Mayor of Paris and at the French Foreign Ministry.

- 23 -  Sakharov Prize Network (SPN) activities

The activities organised in the framework of the SPN aim to offer support to the laureates, to facilitate contact with the MEPs and to raise the European Parliament’s reputation. The effectiveness of EP work was thus highlighted not only via direct EP communication, but also by Sakharov Prize laureates and human rights defenders.

Political support to the laureates, including through silent diplomacy, involved numerous Members of the European Parliament - in particular, but not only, EP Members of the Sakharov Prize Network: President Tajani, Vice-President Lunacek, AFET Chair McAllister, DEVE Chair McAvan and DROI Chair Panzeri.

Continuous monitoring of the situation of the laureates and the political situation in their respective countries provided all interested MEPs and political bodies with valuable information and enabled them to react swiftly, when appropriate.

Specific action on Dr Denis Mukwege’s security and Raif Badawi’s imprisonment was undertaken to defend the laureates. This action involved the EP President, the Vice President in charge of the SPN, parliamentary bodies (AFET, DEVE, DROI) and MEPs.

The Sakharov Prize Network connected the 2016 Yezidi laureates with 2014 laureate Dr Denis Mukwege who organised a retreat in Geneva on 26 June - 1 July with the aim of empowering survivors of sexual violence. VP Lunacek addressed this event by video message.

The Sakharov Prize, the Network and the Sakharov Fellowship have become important tools to communicate the EP human rights engagement. DEG was involved in particular in a new Sakharov photo book and campaign conceived together with DG COMM as the major promotion tool for the 30th anniversary of the Sakharov Prize. As an off-spread of the photobook an exhibition They defend our freedoms – 30 years of Sakharov Prize will tour the Member States in 2018. It illustrates emblematic fights for human rights ideals through the stories of four Sakharov Prize fellows, portrayed by the famous photo agency Magnum.

The monthly SPN Newsletter continued to strengthen links among MEPs and the laureates themselves, facilitating mutual understanding of the respective activities. The communication with laureates and larger public is accompanied via Sakharov Prize Network website.

Sakharov Fellowship for Human Rights Defenders – Brussels and Venice

The now well-established Sakharov Fellowship programme, highly appreciated by Members and participants, supports human rights defenders in third countries and strengthens the visibility of the EP engagement in human rights in key third countries and with civil society organisations within the EU. This second, very successful edition gathered a huge number of applications (the number went up to over 1,100 against 150 in 2016). The Sakharov Fellowship involved among others President Tajani, Vice-President Lunacek, 23 MEPs in individual bilateral meetings with fellows, 32 MEPs at FEMM/DROI meeting (Chairs Panzeri and Blinkevičiūtė).

- 24 - Complementary to the laureates’ activities under the Sakharov Prize Network, the fellows act as multipliers - amplifying and carrying the spirit of the Sakharov Prize into their communities.

In 2017, the fourteen selected fellows originated from Bosnia and Herzegovina, China, Costa Rica, Egypt, Ethiopia, Georgia, Iraq, Cambodia, Pakistan, Peru, Russia, Tunisia, Turkey, and Zambia. Their areas of activities covered: business and human rights, minority and indigenous rights, gender-based violence, women’s rights, health, legal assistance, digital freedom, education, and LGBT rights. The Sakharov fellows successfully completed a two- week human rights training programme in Brussels (6-9 June) and attended the human rights summer school at the European Inter-University Centre in Venice (10-17 June).

The Fellowship is now woven into ongoing parliamentary work and well-connected to the Members as well as to key stakeholders from the EEAS, EP Secretariat, political groups, and Brussels-based human rights NGOs. It provided increased visibility for EP action in many countries, and for the Sakharov brand in particular.

Follow-up action to the Fellowship included, additionally to the new 30th Sakharov Prize anniversary book, participation of the 2017 Turkish fellow in the EU-NGO Forum in Brussels on 5-6 December; working contacts with the 2016 Iranian fellow on human rights cases in Iran; a support letter for the 2017 Cambodian fellow who lost his job because of his activism.

Sakharov Prize Network meetings with MEPs/Committees and events

- Lamya Haji Bashar and Hauwa Ibrahim participated in a highly attended inter- parliamentary conference, co-organised together with FEMM Committee on the occasion of the International Women’s Day on 8 March - Christophe Deloire representing Reporters without Borders participated in a DROI meeting on Press Freedom Day on 7 May - Salih Osman participated in the Young Political Leaders Programme for Israel and Palestine and met with Members to discuss the Parliament’s role in addressing critical human rights violations in Sudan on 28-29 November.

Events involving MEPs and SP laureates in Member States organised in cooperation with the EP Information Offices (EPIOs)

A series of strong SPN events involving citizens in the EU Member States saw the participation of laureates together with Vice President Lunacek, AFET Chair McAllister and local MEPs. These EPIO events in Rome, Brussels, Ljubljana, Paris, Tallinn, Luxembourg and Berlin were very well attended, in some cases involving also members of governments and a royal family.

The events helped spread the laureates’ human rights messages to a broader public, thus raising awareness in different Member States and brought attention to the EP action.

 Italy - Hauwa Ibrahim addressed a conference on freedom from violence as empowerment precondition in Rome on 6 March involving MEPs Silvia Costa and Eleonora Forenza

- 25 -  Belgium - Lamya Haji Bashar, Hauwa Ibrahim and Dr Denis Mukwege on a video-clip, participated in a conference on “The Sakharov Prize of the European Parliament: Human Rights and the fight against violence against women” in Brussels on 8 March  Slovenia - Lamya Haji Bashar participated in a Round Table with MEPs on the human rights situation in the world in Ljubljana on 17 March, and held a meeting with the Human Rights Committee of the Slovenian Parliament and with the representatives of the Churches in Slovenia  France - Lamya Haji Bashar had a meeting with the City Council of Paris and Mayor Anne Hidalgo and at the Foreign Ministry on 27-28 March  Estonia - Kirill Koroteev representing 2009 laureate Memorial met with the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Parliament of Estonia and the Chancellor of Justice on 17-18 October, gave a lecture and took part in a debate on Sakharov Prize finalists at Tallinn University  Luxembourg, Germany, France - the ‘European tour’ completing the Sakharov week, 2017 laureates Antonio Ledezma and Patricia de Ceballos representing her husband Daniel held awareness-raising events in Luxembourg (involving Viviane Reding) on 14 December and in Berlin (involving David McAllister) on 15 December. Patricia de Ceballos representing her husband Daniel met in Paris with Deputy Mayor Patrick Klugman and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on 18 December.

 Human rights action

The human rights action conducted by the DEG aims raising the awareness among parliamentarians from third countries, in particular from the CDSA countries, to help to mainstream human rights into legislation, but also to build networks with human rights defenders and support civil society representatives in dialogue with national parliaments and authorities. Among others three study visits of MPs from Moldova, Morocco and Nigeria, an event in Ukraine and a high-level conference gathering 60 human rights defenders contributed to these goals with a focus on women’s rights.

Study visits for parliamentarians from CDSA countries:

 Visit of Moldovan parliamentarians, Brussels 6-8 February A study visit of parliamentarians from the Committee for Interethnic Relations and Human Rights of Moldova on 6-8 February focused on topics identified together: freedom of media, torture and ill treatment by law-enforcement, the ombudsman law, national minority rights, domestic violence, gender equality and children’s rights. The visit met expectations with an intensive programme, strong political messages and active participation by 10 MEPs who urged Moldova to address pressing human rights issues and maintain a pro-EU course.

 Visit of Moroccan women parliamentarians, Brussels 6-9 March Newly elected women-parliamentarians from Morocco’s Chamber of Representatives visited the EP on 6-9 March, restarting cooperation with the Moroccan parliament after a long pause. The goal was to help strengthen women-MPs, with a focus on gender equality issues. It enjoyed high interest of MEPs and allowed the visitors to combine a tailor-made visit with a big scale conference organised by FEMM, together with DEG and DROI, a valuable occasion for exchanges and networking. Participation included: DROI Chair

- 26 - Panzeri, Vice-President of FEMM Honeyball and Co-Chair of the inter-group on children’s rights Corraza Bildt.

 Visit of Nigerian women parliamentarians, Brussels 9-11 October Women’ empowerment in politics and enhancing capacity of women legislators was also the theme of a study visit of seven women-parliamentarians from both houses of Nigeria’s parliament on 9-11 October. The study-visit gathered all women parliamentarians sitting in the Nigerian parliament. Seven MEPs took part in the programme, including Michael Gahler, Chair of the Delegation for relations with the Pan- African Parliament; the group participated in a joint DEVE/FEMM meeting and a FEMM workshop. The exchanges, highly appreciated by Members, showed genuine interest to cooperate in improving the situation of women in Nigeria and to work on issues like a gender equality law and more general on fostering a culture of women’s participation in education and political life.

Inter-parliamentary meeting “Women’s economic empowerment: Let’s act together” (Brussels, 8-9 March)

In cooperation with FEMM, DEG brought for the first time non-EU parliamentarians to the EP's annual International Women's Day conference with Members of the EU-28 national parliaments. Delegations from Ukraine, Moldova, Tunisia, Morocco, future CDSA country Georgia, and Pre-accession countries (Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Macedonia Montenegro, Serbia, and Turkey) attended the conference totalling about 80 MPs in Brussels on 8-9 March. The conference included a welcome address by the EP President, Mr Antonio Tajani and a speech by Věra Jourová, European Commissioner for Justice, Consumers and Gender Equality. It was chaired by Ms Vilija Blinkevičiūtė (S&D, LT) Chair of the Committee on Women's Rights and Gender Equality. Within the framework of Pre-Accession and Human Rights activities, DEG contributed by a workshop on Global perspectives: freedom from violence and empowerment thus following up to its conference on violence against women in Tunis in July 2016 which gathered parliamentarians from CDSA countries Tunisia and Morocco and neighbouring Maghreb countries. Sakharov Prize laureates Lamya Haji Bashar (2016) and Hauwa Ibrahim (2005) addressed this workshop on International Women's Day.

Strengthening Regional Human Rights Defenders’ Networks in Western Balkans, Eastern Europe and Turkey (Brussels, 20-22 March)

The EP joined forces with OSCE/ODIHR to organise a conference on Strengthening Regional HRDs Networks in Western Balkans, Eastern Europe and Turkey on 20-22 March 2017. The event brought together 60 human rights defenders. The largest such gathering in the EP for the year allowed a dialogue with the EU institutions and helped forge links between the EP and HRDs, better understanding of EU/EP work, building-up capacities and networking. The meeting with politicians and workshops focused on practical mechanisms for HRDs protection and reflected on how to overcome the risks they face and enhance their security. President Tajani’s speech and his strong stance on Turkey was widely reported in the media; it echoed expectations by participants for clear and strong EU messages on HR violations. Other speakers included AFET Chair McAllister and DROI Chair Panzeri, high

- 27 - level representatives from OSCE/ODIHR, the EC (DEVCO, NEAR), EEAS and the Council of Europe. The joint event laid ground for further cooperation with ODIHR in this area. Recommendations from the HRDs to European organisations and institutions and their member-states were later consolidated by the ODIHR in a report and the document was brought to the attention of the DEG.

One World Human Rights Documentary Film Festival (OWFF) (Brussels, 27 April)

The EP opens its door to this largest film festival in Europe on human rights thanks to a regular cooperation with the NGO “People in Need”. The programme in Brussels on 24 April included the screening of a powerful Danish documentary - “The Wait” - about the plight of children in families seeking asylum in the EU and, more broadly, migration and asylum policies of the EU and its Member-States. In view of the massive arrival of immigrants and asylum seekers in the EU in 2015, this topical issue addressed in a panel debate by M.C. Bendixen, Chair of the Danish NGO “Refugees welcome” and P. Quesada from International Office for Migration (IOM) led to a thought-provoking discussion with more than 100 participants, including Afghan immigrants living in Brussels. VP Lunacek delivered a presentation of the Sakharov Prize in her introductory remarks and LIBE Committee Chair Claude Moraes shared a video as an EP contribution to the global IOM information campaign ‘I am a migrant’.

Gender Equality and the Sustainable Development Goals: a framework for parliamentary engagement (Kiev, 15 September)

As a contribution to CDSA in Ukraine, DEG organised together with the UNDP, this intensive workshop aimed to assess options and strategies to develop a gender impact methodology based on the Sustainable Development Goals. The event brought together parliamentarians, parliamentary staff, Ukrainian civil society gender activists, government representatives, along with international experts on gender sensitive policy making, as well as Georgian and Moldovan MPs working in this area.

High-level Round Table on the European Integration Process of Western Balkans in a Regional Perspective (Brussels, 20-21 November)

Human Rights Defenders from the Western Balkans countries participated in the High-Level round table on the European integration of the Western Balkans on 20-21 November. The presence of this part of civil society contributed to interesting and frank exchanges. This was also an opportunity for the HRDs to network, to establish closer contacts with the EP as well as to meet the key people involved in the EU enlargement process (see part IV).

European Endowment for Democracy (EED) - EP/MEPs involvement

The DEG continued to contribute to the close implication of the EP in the daily activities of the EED. It maintained political support for the Endowment and oversight of its EC funding. This was achieved by inviting the EED Executive Director for a discussion to a DEG meeting and by close personal involvement of DEG members, as five DEG members sat on the EED Board, including the Chair of its Executive Committee (A. Graf Lambsdorff). Members who sit on the EED Board of Governors assisted two meetings of the Board, on 22 June and on 6

- 28 - December. On each occasion, preparatory meetings were organised in the EP, for Members with the EED Executive Director and for political groups’ advisers with EED’s Director of Operations. MEPs also assisted for three EED strategic reflection meetings, on the Southern Neighbourhood on 29 March, on the Western Balkans on 19 September and on the Eastern Neighbours on 7 November. Assistance was given for the presentation by the EED Executive Director of the Endowment’s annual report in a meeting of AFET Committee on 20 March. The EED grants recipients were also on many occasions invited to address the Subcommittee on Human Rights.

- 29 - VI. Mediation and dialogue

In line with an increasing international demand for mediation, dialogue and conflict prevention activities, the EP has established a wide range of parliamentary mediation and dialogue activities to complement overall EU capacities.

Members of the European Parliament engaged in mediation and conflict prevention have been using this recognised soft power tool, including in key thematic areas, such as inter- party dialogue and consensus building, prevention of election-related violence, parliamentary support to conflict prevention and peace processes as well as the EP’s Young Political Leaders Programme primarily in the extended Neighbourhood, the Western Balkans, the CDSA’s priority countries.

To this end, the EP Mediation Support Service has been upgraded into a Unit to further develop the newly established working methods and to continue providing expert policy advice and practical operational support to Members active in the area of parliamentary mediation, facilitation of dialogue and conflict prevention.

 Jean Monnet Dialogues for Peace and Democracy

A particularly innovative new instrument has been the Jean Monnet Dialogues. The aim of the Jean Monnet Dialogue (JMD) concept, a mediation and dialogue process launched at the historical Jean Monnet House in Bazoches, enables the EP to facilitate inter-party dialogue, thereby allowing political leaders to focus on building consensus on key issues of institutional or national reform away from the media and political spotlight of Brussels and national capitals.

Ukraine Following the first successful Jean Monnet Dialogue with the Speaker, Prime Minister and faction leaders of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine in October 2016, two more high-level Dialogues, led by former President of the European Parliament, Pat Cox and Lead Member for Ukraine Elmar Brok, were organised again on 18 to 20 April in Kiev and on 23 to 24 November 2017 in Bazoches. Progress was made notably in discussions on the status of the opposition, reform of the committee structure, amendments to the Rules of Procedures, application of D’Hondt system on proportional representation of factions in the Rada’s committees and delegations, as well as an initial reflection on electoral reform and institutional shortcomings affecting the effective implementation of the EU-Ukraine Association Agreement. The JMD has proven to be an effective tool for facilitating political dialogue, building confidence and parliamentary culture of dialogue amongst the political factions as well as reinforcing capacity-building activities, essential for the institutional reform, as set out in the EP Needs Assessment Mission Report launched during the Ukraine Week in 2016.

Western Balkans Given the positive development of the Jean Monnet Dialogue concept, the DEG agreed at its meeting in July 2017 to extend the concept beyond Ukraine, namely to the Western Balkans. The first country in this region where preparations for the Jean Monnet Dialogue process have been initiated in 2017 is in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, building upon the mediation efforts of 3 Members of the European Parliament together with Commissioner Hahn.

- 30 -  Mediation, Facilitated Dialogue and Contribution to Conflict Prevention

Facilitated dialogue in the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia Following the December 2016 elections, the 3 mediators, Eduard Kukan, Knut Flecknenstein and Ivo Vajgl, together with Commissioner Hahn continued close monitoring of the political developments in the country, and provided support to all the political parties in the newly established government in May 2017 and adoption of the reform oriented programme, including the full implementation of the Przino Agreement. The 3 MEPs provided political support and facilitation of dialogue and visited the country at critical moments to continue the EP’s support and work with the political leaders towards the Jean Monnet Dialogue process.

Addressing pre-election violence prevention Building on the policy dialogue across the EU institutions, with UN agencies and expert conflict prevention NGOs, the EP continued to support the enhancement of EU activities to address the recurrent issue of election-related violence. On 13 July 2017, chaired by MEPs Judith Sargentini and Alojz Peterle, the DEG hosted a seminar entitled “Preventing Election- Related Violence: What Role for Political Mediation and Dialogue” whereby experts emphasised the need for the EU institutions to go beyond policy discussion and to step up implementation of activities in this field. In this line, in close cooperation with the EEAS and EU Delegation, the EP organised its first pre-election conflict prevention delegation in May ahead of the Kenyan General Elections in 2017. As well as holding bilateral meetings with parliamentary leadership, political party leaders and electoral commissioners, the EP took part in a conference to highlight the specific concerns of violence and intimidation against women during the electoral campaign. As a follow-up to the delegation, the EU’s Chief Observer for the Kenyan General Elections was provided with a coaching programme to raise awareness and orientation on conflict and mediation issues related to the elections. Finally, as a contribution to the ongoing policy debate on how to improve the EU’s overall response to preventing election related violence, EPMS took part in a lessons learned exercise on the elections in Kenya organised in December by the European Peacebuilding Liaison Office (EPLO).

Supporting the Working Group on Gagauzia’s Autonomous powers within Moldova’s constitutional framework The successful launch of the Working Group followed an EP hosted Conference in November 2015 that brought together the parliamentary leadership from the Moldovan Parliament and the People’s Assembly of Gagauzia. Subsequently, the Working Group has become a permanent platform for dialogue delivering tangible results in the socio-economic sphere, including the adoption of the first special Action Plan on regional development of Gagauzia and the creation of the Agency for Regional Development in Comrat. The Working Group had its first visit to the European Parliament in November 2017. A key element of the programme was a working session with Mr Auštrevičius, lead MEP for CDSA-Moldova, during which the members of the Parliament and the People’s Assembly committed to drafting new proposals of the two legal harmonization amendments returned by the President of Moldova, and to developing a comprehensive Road Map before the next Moldovan parliamentary elections in 2018 in order to safeguard the continuity of the process.

Training on Conflict Prevention and Mediation for MEPs and Chief Observers The Parliamentary Mediation Training Programme developed by the EPMS specifically for the Members for the European Parliament engaged in mediation and conflict prevention and/or acting as Chief Observers for Election Observation Missions has been included in the

- 31 - European Parliament’s training catalogue for MEPs “Learn.MEP”. The first such training, involving essential mediation tools and skills and a comprehensive understanding of a conflict prevention approach to the elections, was provided to MEP Ms Marietje Schaake, appointed as the Chief Observer for the EU Election Observation Mission for the Kenyan General Elections in August 2017.

 Young Political Leaders (YPL) Programme

Supported by the DEG Lead-Member for the Young Political leaders Programme, Mr Fabio Castaldo, the implementation of the second Annual Programme for 2017 focused on:

Armenia and Azerbaijan On 6-8 March 2017, the DEG brought together for the first time political party activists and civil society representatives from Armenia and Azerbaijan with a programme focused on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. The three-day event hosted in the European Parliament in Brussels helped in enhancing dialogue and trust among young leaders from the two countries and provided an invaluable space for them to engage in dialogue with MEPs as well as relevant representatives of other EU institutions and renowned experts. The lively discussions were centred around the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and the stabilising role that the EU could play in the region. The success of the event was raised by the Azerbaijani authorities during an AFET Delegation visit to the region.

Tunisia Week and Young Political Leaders from MENA Region Following-up on a new initiative introduced by HR/VP Federica Mogherini entitled ‘Young Med Voices’, the European Parliament hosted on 3 May 2017 young leaders from the Middle East and North Africa Region. The programme included exchanges on the links between parliaments and civil society and as well as the challenges of youth participation in politics and sectarianism in the region. The programme was developed in cooperation with the European External Action Service and coincided with the EP’s Tunisia Week. This created an excellent opportunity to leverage on both programmes and provide a common platform for young activists from the MENA region as well as young Members of the Tunisian Parliament. Complementary to these activities for the MENA region, the DEG hosted the 10th Anniversary of the Mediterranean Young Journalists Awards Ceremony in the European Parliament on 6 December 2017. In support of the future young leaders and promotion of dialogue and cultural understanding on both sides of the Mediterranean, the event was organised in cooperation with Anna Lindh Foundation with the global theme of Intercultural Dialogue.

Western Balkans In line with the political importance given by the EU in 2017 to the Western Balkan region, the EP also contributed through the Young Political Leaders Programme with two important events: - EU-Western Balkans Pre-Summit Youth Forum opened by DEG Lead-MEP for the YPL, Mr Fabio Castaldo, was organised by the European Commission, DG NEAR, in Trieste on 11-12 July 2017, and provided 130 youth representatives from the region with an opportunity to review progress in the Western Balkans Berlin Process and to prepare key recommendations that were fed into the EU Western Balkans Summit conclusions. The discussions were focussed on the work of the Regional Youth Cooperation Office (RYCO), the Young Civil Servants Scheme/Mobility of Young Professionals, Erasmus + Programme, and Bridging the gap between youth policy, youth participation and parliamentarians in the region. The latter topic became a key focus of the YPL Programme in the autumn.

- 32 - - As a follow up, the conference “Bridging the gap between youth policy, youth participation and parliamentarians in the Western Balkans” was organised in cooperation with DG NEAR in the European Parliament on 20-21 November 2017. The conference also provided a wider platform for parliamentarians and youth organisations from 6 Western Balkan countries to bring forward possible responses to address youth disengagement with politics in the region.

Israel and Palestine Building on the programme for the young leaders from Israel and Palestine hosted by the EP in December 2016, the 2017 programme (taking place on 27-29 November), allowed the previous year’s alumni to be part of the process of designing the event. The three-day programme thus focused on the EU approach to the Middle-East peace process and conflict prevention and mediation in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The core of the programme was a very successful simulation and mediation exercise based on a concrete scenario of the Israeli- Palestinian conflict, the future of Jerusalem, which was introduced and moderated by Alon Ben Meir, expert on Middle East politics and affairs, specialised in international negotiations and conflict resolution and directly involved in the last 25 years in Track II diplomatic negotiations.

EU-African Union Pre-Summit Youth Forum With Mr Fabio Castaldo leading a panel on ‘Youth and Governance’, the EP Young Political Leaders Programme contributed for the first time to the EU-African Union Pre-Summit Youth Forum. The 2017 forum, convening youth from organisations across Africa and the EU, took place on 9-11 October in Abidjan and drafted recommendations on six horizontal topics, including education and skills, business, job creations and entrepreneurship, governance and political and democratic inclusion, peace and security, environmental preservation and culture and arts, that were presented to the Heads of State at the 5th EU- Africa Summit on 29-30 November in Abidjan.

The Young Political Leaders Programme has been significantly supported by a number of MEPs, including Hugues Bayet, Ana Maria Gomes, Heidi Hautala, Eduard Kukan, Arne Lietz, Javier Lopez, Fulvio Martusciello, David McAllister, Linda McAvan, Brando Menifei, Antonio Panzeri Judith Sargentini, Marietje Schaake, Neoklis Sylikotis, Ramon Luis Valcarcel Siso, and Julie Ward.

- 33 - VII. International events and conferences on democracy

 DEG multilateral capacity-building seminar on the “Legislative Cycle - From Legislative Initiative to Implementation and Monitoring”

On 19-20 June, DEG organised its first multilateral capacity-building seminar,bringing over 60 Committee chairs from the parliaments of the Comprehensive Democracy Support Approach (CDSA) countries and regions (Western Balkans: Bosnia and Herzegovina, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia and Turkey; Moldova; Georgia; Tunisia; Morocco; Myanmar, Peru; Nigeria; Tanzania; and - as part of the Pan- African Parliament delegation - Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Congo, Djibouti, the Ivory Coast, Rwanda, Senegal, Togo).

The event was very successful with an extremely lively exchange of views between MEPs and the external participants on all phases of the EU legislative cycle, with particular attention to the role of committees as a means to empower parliaments vis-à-vis governments.

12 MEPs participated as speakers/chairs of the different sessions including EP Vice- Presidents Mairead McGuinness (EPP, IE), Ryszard Czarnecki (ECR, PL), Ramón Luis Valcárcel Siso (EPP, ES) and Ioan Mircea Paşcu (S&D, RO) and EP Committee Chairs Cecilia Wikström (ALDE, SE) (Petitions) and Pier Antonio Panzeri (S&D, IT) (Human rights). The MEPs stressed that no country can experience a sustainable democratic and political development without an efficient, transparent, independent and well-functioning parliament and that all political forces should play an active part in the parliamentary decision-making process, where a range of supervisory and control powers are necessary to guarantee this, allowing for the correct implementation of the laws. They also argued that a sound legislative process is one which seeks to involve citizens as much as possible through consultations, transparency (roll-call votes, web-streaming of meetings, availability of all documents on the internet) and an enhanced media presence underpinned by the use of the most efficient communication tools.

 Roundtable on “Preventing Election-Related Violence: What Role for Political Mediation and Dialogue”

On 13 July 2017, chaired by MEPs Judith Sargentini and Alojz Peterle, the DEG hosted a seminar on preventing election related violence with experts from both the conflict prevention and election observation communities. The seminar, co-organized with ECES, was a follow up on the symposium “Electing Peace – What Works in Preventing Election Violence?” held in November 2016, focusing on the progress in developing an EU approach to respond to the problem of election related violence.

 International Day of Democracy

On 27 September 2017, for the second year in a row, the European Parliament hosted a conference in celebration of the International Day of Democracy, teaming up with the European External Action Service, the European Commission and four democracy support organisations: the European Endowment for Democracy (EED), the European Network of Political Foundations (ENoP), the European Partnership for Democracy (EPD), and the Office of the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (International IDEA).

- 34 - The event took stock of the current trends and challenges facing democracy and analysed the needs and possibilities for reconnecting citizens and democratic institutions. The event consisted of three panels: 1. State of democracy today - trends and challenges; 2. How to bring the demos back into democracy; 3. Democracy and media – the value of free speech.

High-level politicians, EU officials, academics, journalists, grassroots activists and practitioners debated current trends and challenges to democracy, and analysed the needs and possibilities for reconnecting citizens and democratic institutions. First Vice-President of the European Parliament, Mairead McGuinness, gave the keynote address; MEPs Santiago Fisas, Kati Piri and Marietje Schaake moderated the panels. The event attracted a total of over 120 participants.

 African Week in the EP: participation of DEG priority countries

In support of President Tajani’s initiative for an African Week in the European Parliament on 20-24 November (on the eve of the African Union-European Union Summit in Abidjan), and as part of its on-going capacity-building programmes with African parliaments, DEG invited some 50 parliamentarians from its priority parliaments to take part in the African Week activities. These included representatives from Tunisia, Morocco, Nigeria and - as part of the Pan-African Parliament delegation - from Cameroon, Somalia, Mali, Uganda, Cape Verde, CAR, Guinea and Zambia.

The MPs had the opportunity to actively participate in various discussions on Africa-related agenda items in different Committees (in particular in DEVE, SEDE, AFET, ENVI, LIBE, CULT, FEMM) as well as in the High-Level Conference “Towards a renewed partnership with Africa”. Moreover, the presence of a PAP delegation in Brussels allowed for useful consultations, already on a draft joint text for the Summit, and created the necessary trust between the European and African delegations.

In addition, on 21 November DEG held an extraordinary meeting - with the participation of all invited parliamentarians from the African continent and all MEPs who had been appointed as Chief Observers in an African country (since the beginning of this parliamentary term) - in order to further support the African Week and to promote the democracy/good governance dimension in the EU-Africa relationship. The debates focused on the “Elections in Africa, in the aftermath of the Kenya elections: lessons learnt” and on the “Needs and capacities of African parliaments”.

The presence of the African parliamentarians during the African Week enriched the debates in the different meetings/events and was well appreciated by the EP Committees, Delegations and the President.

- 35 - Annex 1

Composition of the Democracy Support and Election Coordination Group (DEG)

Co-Chairs

NAME GROUP Mr David McALLISTER (Chair AFET) EPP Mrs Linda McAVAN (Chair DEVE) S&D

Members

NAME GROUP Mr Michael GAHLER EPP Mr Cristian Dan PREDA EPP Mr Andrzej GRZYB EPP Ms Inés AYALA SENDER (Chair of the Conference S&D of Delegation Chairs) Mrs Elena VALENCIANO MARTÍNEZ-OROZCO S&D Mr David MARTIN S&D Mr Ryszard CZARNECKI ECR Ms Izaskun BILBAO BARANDICA ALDE Ms Judith SARGENTINI Greens/EFA Ms Marie-Christine VERGIAT GUE/NGL Mr Fabio Massimo CASTALDO EFDD

Ex-officio Members (without voting rights)

NAME Mr Alexander Graf LAMBSDORFF, EP Vice-President responsible for Human Rights and Democracy Mrs Ulrike LUNACEK, EP Vice-President responsible for the Sakharov Prize Network Mr Pier Antonio PANZERI, Chair of the Sub-Committee on Human Rights

- 36 - Annex 2

Lead members on DEG priority countries/regions

Ukraine Elmar BROK (EPP, DE) Georgia Ana GOMES (S&D, PT)

Moldova Petras AUŠTREVIČIUS (ALDE, LT) Tunisia Michael GAHLER (EPP, DE) Morocco Antonio PANZERI (S&D, IT) Peru Renate WEBER (ALDE, RO) Nigeria Santiago FISAS AYXELA (EPP, ES) Western Balkans & Turkey Eduard KUKAN (EPP, SK) Pan African Parliament Michael GAHLER (EPP, DE) Myanmar Judith SARGENTINI (Greens/EFA, NL) Tanzania David MARTIN (S&D, UK) Young Political Leaders Fabio Massimo CASTALDO (EFDD, IT)

- 37 - Annex 3

Contacts

Directorate-General for External Policies Directorate D: Democracy Support

Phone SERVICE/ Brussels Contact E-MAIL UNIT +32 2 28 + Strasbourg +33 3 881 + Directorate D: Director: Pietro DUCCI [email protected] 46656 Democracy Support 72491

Democracy and 32782 Head of Unit: Elections Actions [email protected] 74059 Cristina CASTAGNIOLI Unit Pre-Accession-Actions- 32685 Pre-accession Actions Head of Unit: [email protected] 64061 Unit Krzysztof BERNACKI

Head of Unit f.f.: HumanRights- 46014 Human Rights Inga ROSINSKA [email protected] 72619 Actions Unit

[email protected] 32260 Mediation Support Head of Unit f.f.: 74780 Unit Gerrard QUILLE

- 38 - Annex 4

Directorate -General for External Policies of the Union - Directorate D: Democracy Support 8th legislature Implementation of the 2017 work programme as endorsed by the Democracy Support and Election Coordination Group (DEG) (including MEPs - primarily involved ) UPDATED: / /2018 NB: for further details please contact the respective secretariats

Month DEAC PAAC HRAC EPMS Democracy and Elections Pre-Accession Actions Unit Human Rights Actions Unit European Parliament Actions Unit + main points Mediation Unit from DEG meetings 30-31: Local and Regional January 31: Seminar with EEAS on follow Authorities, Brussels in cooperation up to EOM recommendations with AFET, REGI (10 MEPS: Mr Peterle, Ms Mihaylova, Mr McAllister, Mr Bogovič, Mr van Nistelrooij, Mr Boştinaru, Mr Jakovčić, Mr Nilsson, Mr Tonino Picula, Ms Reintke)

6-8: Visit of the Chairman and 8-11: CDSA Tanzania - visit of February 6-7: Fact-finding mission of lead Members of the Committee for David Martin to the National MEP Santiago Fisas to the Nigerian Human Rights and Inter-Ethnic Assembly Parliament Relations of the Moldovan Parliament (5 MPs, 12 MEPs: 15-17: Mission of Pat Cox to Kiev, 16: DEG meeting: Austrevicius, Boni, Chinnici, Csaky, preparations of 2nd JMD - Mr Gianni Buquicchio, President of Grapini, Grzyb, Harms, Honeyball, the Venice Commission, invited Nicolai, Kozlowska-Rajewicz, 28 Feb - 1 March: - DEG position on possible EU EOM Preda, Soltes), Brussels "Peer Coaching Mediation" at Berlin to Algeria and Palestine Centre for International Peace Operations (part of developing the 17-18: Fact-finding mission of lead EP parliamentary Mediation MEP Gomes to Georgia Training/Coaching for Chief Month DEAC PAAC HRAC EPMS Democracy and Elections Pre-Accession Actions Unit Human Rights Actions Unit European Parliament Actions Unit + main points Mediation Unit from DEG meetings Observers) 19-22: Preparatory Mission of former Pdt Baron Crespo to Tunis in view of the Tunisian Week

02-03/03: Trans-European Networks 6: Sakharov Prize Network (SPN) 6-8: Visit of Young Political Leaders March 7: DEG seminar on “Improving the policy and connectivity agenda, event in cooperation with EPIO from Armenia and Azerbaijan to the accountability of Parliamentarians Pristina, Kosovo in cooperation with Rome, Sakharov Prize Laureate EP in Bxl in election observation” (hosted by TRAN, ITRE and Regional (SPL) Hauwa Ibrahim (2005, Lambsdorff; co-chaired with Cooperation Council (RCC) Nigeria), MEPs Costa and Forenza, 21-22: Mediation Mission of 3 Gomes) (5 MEPS: Ms Delli, Mr Rome MEPs to FYRoM Fleckenstein, Ms De Monte, Ms 16: DEG Theocharous, Mr Radoš) 6-9: Visit of Moroccan women - feedback on DEG seminar with parliamentarians (7 MPs, 8 MEPs: Chief Observers on “follow-up to 08-09/03: Women's economic DROI Chair Panzeri, Ayala Sender, EOM Recommendations empowerment: let's act together, in Corazza Bildt, Fisas Ayxela, Conclusions” cooperation with FEMM Gabriel, Honeyball, Pargneaux, - DEG decision to restart DEG human rights action on the Saifi), Brussels cooperation with Morocco for occasion of the International democracy support activities Women's Day (IWD), Brussels 8: SPN event in cooperation with (11 MEPS: Ms. Blinkevičiūtė, Mr. EPIO Brussels, SPLs Lamya Haji 18-22: EP EOD to Timor Leste Panzeri, Ms Bildt, Ms Arena, Ms Bashar (2016, Iraq), Hauwa Ibrahim (Head of Delegation, Ana Gomes) Vautmans, Ms Costa, Ms Forenza, (2005, Nigeria), Dr Denis Mukwege Mr Weidenholzer, Ms Schaake, Ms (2014, DRC) by video message, 20-22: Mission staff DG PRES to Gomes, Ms Becerra) MEPs Arena and Vautmans, the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Brussels 22-22/03: Study Visit – Members of 28-30: PAP staff visit to Brussels on the Parliament of Montenegro, 8-9: Inter-parliamentary meeting interpretation, translation, IT, Brussels in cooperation with AFET “Women’s economic empowerment: finance (hosted by Gahler) (8 MEPS: Mr Paşcu , Ms Lunacek, Let’s act together!” in cooperation Mr McAllister, Ms Fotyga, Ms with FEMM Committee (21 MPs, Kaili, Mr Vaughan, Mr Tannock, Mr from Georgia, Moldova, Morocco, Brok) Tunisia, Ukraine, President Tajani, MEPs: FEMM Chair Blinkevičiūtė,

- 40 - Month DEAC PAAC HRAC EPMS Democracy and Elections Pre-Accession Actions Unit Human Rights Actions Unit European Parliament Actions Unit + main points Mediation Unit from DEG meetings DROI Chair Panzeri, Corazza Bildt, SPLs Lamya Haji Bashar (2016, Iraq) and Hauwa Ibrahim (2005, Nigeria), Brussels

17: SPN event in cooperation with EPIO Ljubljana, SPL Lamya Haji Bashar (2016, Iraq), Ljubljana

20-22: Conference “Strengthening Regional Human Rights Defenders’ Networks in Western Balkans, Eastern Europe and Turkey” (60 human rights defenders from 11 countries, President Tajani, AFET Chair McAllister, DROI Chair Panzeri, MEP Cristea, EEAS, EC, individual meetings with MEPs), Brussels

27-28: SPN events in cooperation with EPIO Paris, SPL Lamya Haji Bashar (2016, Iraq), Mayor of Paris, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Paris

24/04-02/06: Pre-Accession Fellow, 27: One World Human Rights 18-20: 2nd Jean Monnet Dialogue April 30.3-3.4: EP EOD to Armenia (Head from the Parliament of Albania, Ms Documentary Film Festival, “The with Ukraine in Kiev of delegation: Heidi Hautala) Evda Mema (DG EXPO - Wait”, VP Lunacek by video Directorate for Regions, Policy message, NGOs, Brussels 4-8: EP EOD to the Gambia (Head Department for External Relations), of delegation: Jean Lambert) Brussels

6: DEG: 24/04-02/06: Pre-Accession Fellow, - discussion on a possible revision of from the Parliamentary Assembly of

- 41 - Month DEAC PAAC HRAC EPMS Democracy and Elections Pre-Accession Actions Unit Human Rights Actions Unit European Parliament Actions Unit + main points Mediation Unit from DEG meetings DEG’s working methods (decision Bosnia and Herzegovina, Mr Jovica to adopt a silent written procedure in Katić (DG COMM - Directorate for cases of urgency) Relations with the Citizens), - feedback on DEG Roundtable on Brussels “Improving the accountability of Parliamentarians in election 24/04-02/06: Pre-Accession Fellow, observation” from the Assembly of Kosovo, Mr Fatin Hamiti (DG IPOL - 24 - 26 April Sri Lanka/Myanmar Directorate for Citizens' Rights and MPs’ joint visit to Brussels on Constitutional Affairs - Secretariat budgetary role of parliaments of the Committee on Civil Liberties, (hosted by Lambert/Sargentini) Justice and Home Affairs), Brussels

02-03/05: Public Procurement and 4: SPN participation in DROI 3: ‘Young Med Voices initiative of May 2-4: Tunisian Week, Brussels Parliament’s role, Brussels Committee meeting, “Exchange of HR Mogherini’ visit to the EP (7 MEPS: Mr Tarabella, Ms views on the occasion of the Press during the Tunisian Week 19-23: Visit of Pat Cox to Ukraine: Macovei, Mr Šoltes, Mr Scholz, Ms Freedom Day”, Christophe Deloire Open Parliament Initiative, Steering Dlabajová, Ms Pitera, Mr Kohn) representing 2005 SPL Reporters 3: YPL during Tunisian Week committee of the Rada za Evropu Without Borders, Brussels project, seminar on legislative 15/05-23/06: Pre-Accession Fellow, 4: Visit of the new Speaker of the implementation of the AA from the Parliament of Albania, Ms National Assembly of the FYRoM, Dhamo (DG EPRS - Directorate Mr Xhaferi to the EP, meeting with 22-24: PAP staff visit to Brussels on Members' Research Service - 3 MEPs, debriefing Delegation the EU legislative process Economic Policies Unit), Brussels 8-11: Seminars on preventing 28-30 May: Fact-finding mission of 29/05-07/07: Pre-Accession Fellow, election-related violence in Kenya lead MEP Weber to Peru from the Parliament of Montenegro, and Tanzania (following the Ms Nela Kaluderović ( DG IPOL - – preparatory/fact-finding mission of 29: DEG: Directorate for Citizens' Rights and MEP David Martin to Tanzania on - adoption of priorities for EU EOM Constitutional Affairs - Secretariat 8-11 February) in until the end of 2017 of the Committee on Constitutional - adoption of priorities for EODs in Affairs, Brussels the 2nd half of 2017

- 42 - Month DEAC PAAC HRAC EPMS Democracy and Elections Pre-Accession Actions Unit Human Rights Actions Unit European Parliament Actions Unit + main points Mediation Unit from DEG meetings 29 May-23 June: Democracy Fellow form Moldova

31 May-1 June: Moldova Parliament staff visit on European integration (hosted by Austrevicius)

19-20: (together with DEAC) High- 6-17: Sakharov Fellowship 2 week 2-3: Mission of Pat Cox, expert on June 9-13: EP EOD to Kosovo (Head of level capacity-building seminar on programme for 14 Fellows, Mediation/Dialogue with Ukraine, to delegation: Igor Soltes) the Legislative cycle for all CDSA President Tajani, VP Lunacek, TLD Malta countries and regions, Brussels in DROI Chair Panzeri, MEP Gomes, 19-20: (together with PAAC) High- cooperation with AFET, LIBE, individual meetings with 23 MEPs, 26-28: Visit of Chiefs of Staff of level capacity-building seminar on ENVI and REGI, PETI, DROI Brussels and Venice Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine to the the Legislative cycle for all CDSA (12 MEPS: Mr Czarnecki, Mr EP in Bxl countries and regions, Brussels in Peterle, Ms Weber, Ms Sargentini, 10: SPL Hauwa Ibrahim (2005, cooperation with AFET, LIBE, Mr Austrevicius, Ms McGuinness, Nigeria) at the Venice School of 28: Mediation Training of MEP ENVI and REGI, PETI, DROI Mr Paşcu, Mr Valcárcel Siso, Ms Human Rights, Opening lecture, Schaake, Chief Observer, Kenya, in (12 MEPS: Mr Czarnecki, Mr Mihaylova, Ms Wikström, Mr Venice Brussels Peterle, Ms Weber, Ms Sargentini, Panzeri, Mr Jávor) Mr Austrevicius, Ms McGuinness, 14: SPL Lamya Haji Bashar (2016, Mr Paşcu, Mr Valcárcel Siso, Ms Iraq) at the Venice School of Human Mihaylova, Ms Wikström, Mr Rights, “Evidence from the field: Panzeri, Mr Jávor) The Case of Yazidi Women”, Venice 23 - 26: EP EOD to Albania (Head of Delegation tbc) 22: European Endowment for Democracy (EED) Board of 24 - 27: EP EOD to Mongolia (Head Governors meeting, Brussels of delegation: Laima Andrikiene) 26.6.-1.7: “Retreat of Survivors of 27-28: Study visit of staff from the Sexual Violence”, SPL Dr Denis Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine to DG Mukwege (2014, DRC), VP PRES Lunacek by video message, Geneva

- 43 - Month DEAC PAAC HRAC EPMS Democracy and Elections Pre-Accession Actions Unit Human Rights Actions Unit European Parliament Actions Unit + main points Mediation Unit from DEG meetings 11-12: YPL - participation of MEP July 6: DEG: Fabio Castaldo in the Youth Summit - adoption of "DEG Criteria for on Western Balkans, Trieste, Italy MEPs participating in election observation delegations" as a means 13: Conference on conflict to strengthen EP election prevention, mediation and dialogue observation with ECES in Bxl - decision to establish a Joint Code of Conduct with the four assemblies observing in the OSCE area - comprehensive and forward- looking overview of all EP democracy support activities in the Western Balkans

18-24: EP EOD to Timor Leste (Head of Delegation Ana Gomes)

6-10: (with DEAC) EP EOM to August 6-10: (with EPMS) EP EOD to Kenya (Head of Delegation David Kenya (Head of Delegation David McAllister) McAllister) 29: Training - Mediation/conflict prevention for EU Ambassadors, Bxl

31.08 - 01.09: Mediation Mission of 3 MEPs to FYRoM

September 4-6: Study visit of MPs from the 28-29: Independent and modern 15: “Gender Equality and the 13-16: Mission of Pat Cox to Kiev, Pan-African Parliament on the role public administration, Danilovgrad, Sustainable Development Goals: a preparations for 3rd JMD with of the parliament and the legislative Montenegro in cooperation with framework for parliamentary Ukraine process (hosted by Gahler) AFET and the Regional School of engagement" workshop, MEP Public Administration Kozłowska-Rajewicz, Kiev 14: DEG: (6 MEPs: Mr Czarnecki, Mr Martin,

- 44 - Month DEAC PAAC HRAC EPMS Democracy and Elections Pre-Accession Actions Unit Human Rights Actions Unit European Parliament Actions Unit + main points Mediation Unit from DEG meetings - decision to observe the election in Mr Peterle, Ms Vaidere, Mr Nepal in Nov/Dec 2017 (advanced Meszerics, Mr Castaldo) from 2018) - discussion on the elections in Kenya with Chief Observer Marietje 04/09-13/10: Pre-Accession Fellow, Schaake from the Parliamentary Assembly of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Ms Amila 27: International Day of Democracy Žujo (DG INTE, Directorate for Organisation and Planning), 26-28: Study visit of staff from the Brussels Parliament of Georgia (hosted by Gomes) 25/09-03/11: Pre-Accession Fellow, from the National Assembly of the 25-29: Study visit of staff from the former Yugoslav Republic of Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine (hosted Macedonia, Ms Gorana Pop by Brok) Georgieva (DG PRES - Protocol), Brussels

October 13-16: EP EOD to Kyrgyzstan 03/10: Annual coordinators 9-11: Visit to the EP of Nigerian 17-18: (with DEAC) EP-NASS (Head of Delegation Laima meeting, European Parliament and women MPs (7 MPs, 7 MEPs: Seminars in Nigeria on budget, Andrikiene) national correspondents of the Girling, Fisas Ayxelà, Nart, Lopez oversight and inter/intra-party enlargement parliaments, Brussels Aguilar, Kyenge, Valenciano), dialogue (Head of Delegation 17-18: (with EPMS) EP-NASS Brussels Santiago Fisas) Seminars in Nigeria on budget, 16/10-24/11: Pre-Accession Fellow, oversight and inter/intra-party from the Parliament of Montenegro, 17-18: SPN event in cooperation 9-11: YPL – Mission of MEP dialogue (Head of Delegation Ms Ivana Tatar (DG EXPO - SEDE with EPIO Tallinn, Kirill Koroteev Castaldo to Abidjan, Africa – Santiago Fisas) Committee), Brussels representing Memorial (2009, Europe Youth Summit Russia), Tallinn

9-10: Mission of Ivo Vajgl to November 16: DEG: 20-21: Human rights component of 20-21: High-level Round Table: the Skopje, preparations for the first - discussion of DEG Work the High-level Round Table on the European integration process of JMD with Macedonia Programme for 2018 European Integration Process of

- 45 - Month DEAC PAAC HRAC EPMS Democracy and Elections Pre-Accession Actions Unit Human Rights Actions Unit European Parliament Actions Unit + main points Mediation Unit from DEG meetings - adoption of priorities for EU EOM Western Balkans in a regional Western Balkans in a Regional in 2018 perspective, Brussels in cooperation Perspective, 6 civil society 7-10: Working Group on Dialogue with AFET, HRAC representatives, Brussels between Chisinau and Comrat with 20-23: 4 DEG priority country visits and EP Delegations for relations to the EP African Week (Nigeria, with the countries of Western 28-29: SPL Salih Osman (2007, CMI, in Bxl Morocco, Tunisia, PAP) Balkans Sudan) at the Young political leaders from Israel and Palestine event and 20-22: YPL Western Balkans in Bxl (19 MEPs: Ms Hautala, Mr 21: extraordinary DEG (African meetings with MEPs, Brussels McAllister, Mr Kukan, Mr Panzeri Week): Ms Macovei, Mr Picula, Mr Peterle, 23-24: 3rd JMD with Ukraine, - discussion on elections in Africa, Mr Martin, Mr Dan Preda, Mr Bazoches, France following the Kenya elections Šoltes, Mr Fleckenstein, Mr Vajgl Mr Tannock, Ms Schaake, Mr 23-27: EP EOM in Nepal (Head of 27-29: YPL Israel and Palestine in Dzhambazki, Mr Meszerics, Mr Delegation Neena Gill) Bxl Castaldo, Mr Radoš, Mr Kovatchev) 24-28: EP EOM in Honduras (Head of Delegation Jose Ignacio Faria)

December 4-9: EP EOM in Nepal (Head of 6: YPL - Mediterranean Journalist 6: YPL - Mediterranean Journalist Delegation Neena Gill) Award Ceremony with Anna Lindh Award Ceremony with Anna Lindh Foundation, Bxl (human rights Foundation, Bxl 4-6: Study visit of MPs from the component, MEP Ayala Sender) Nigerian Assembly on budget, 6: Participation in policy discussion oversight of trade and investment, 6: European Endowment for on 'Preventing deadlocked and and oversight of security sector Democracy (EED) Board of violent elections: lessons from (hosted by Fisas) Governors meeting, Brussels Kenya', EPLO, Bxl

11-14: Study visit of staff from the 11-13: Sakharov Prize Week with 18-19 December: House of Representatives of Jordan the 2017 SPL Democratic Mission to Kiev, CDSA Ukraine, to the European Parliament Opposition in Venezuela (Julio JMD Process Borges, 2 Venezuelan MPs, the 12-15: EP mission to Washington political prisoners represented by for the 12th implementation Meeting Antonio Ledezma and

- 46 - Month DEAC PAAC HRAC EPMS Democracy and Elections Pre-Accession Actions Unit Human Rights Actions Unit European Parliament Actions Unit + main points Mediation Unit from DEG meetings of the Declaration of Principles for representatives of Leopoldo López, International Election Observation Daniel Ceballos, Lorent Saleh, (MEP: Tamás Meszerics) Alfredo Ramos and Andrea González) and finalist Aura Lolita 14: DEG: Chavez Ixcaquic and representative - adoption of 2017 Work programme of jailed finalist Dawit Isaak; award (decision on Turkey as a CDSA ceremony, joint AFET/DEVE/DROI priority country pending) meeting, meetings with political - adoption of priorities for EODs for groups, seminars with students and 1st half of 2018 journalists, Strasbourg.

11-13: Public debate in cooperation with Strasbourg city, exhibition They defend our freedoms - 30 years of Sakharov Prize in Lieu d’Europe and Strasbourg railway station, Strasbourg

14: EPIO event in Luxembourg with the 2017 SP laureate A. Ledezma and P. de Ceballos representing D. Ceballos, MEP Reding

15: EPIO event in Berlin with the 2017 SP laureate A. Ledezma and P. de Ceballos representing D. Ceballos, AFET Chair McAllister

18: SPN visibility event, P. de Ceballos representing D. Ceballos in Paris, Deputy Mayor of Paris, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Paris.

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