WRITTEN QUESTION E-3588/03 by José Ribeiro e Castro (UEN) to the Commission. Mozambique — elections.
Date: 2003-12-05
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU aid, Mozambique, civics, cooperation policy, election monitoring, local election, organisation of elections, presidential election

C 78 E/300

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

27.3.2004

The contribution to Miliaria/SP1.E6 is EUR 1 600 451,75 out of a total cost of EUR 2 133 935,67 and that
to Prisma/SP1.E76 EUR 1 767 366 out of a total cost of EUR 2 356 488.

Given the volume of the detailed information we have for the Honourable Member on the two projects we
shall send it separately to her and to Parliament’s Secretariat.

(2004/C 78 E/0302)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-3588/03

by José Ribeiro e Castro (UEN) to the Commission

(5 December 2003)

Subject: Mozambique (cid:1) elections

On 19 November 2003, local elections took place in Mozambique.

Arão Litsure, the chairman of the National Election Committee, claims that the elections took place
satisfactorily, despite sporadic difficulties.

However, Renamo, the major opposition party, had apparently earlier voiced suspicions of possible
electoral fraud.

These elections mark a new era in Mozambique’s political
democratic political power between Frelimo and Renamo could become a reality.

life, given that the first proper sharing of

These local elections are, furthermore, seen as a preparation for the 2004 presidential elections.

The Commission:

(cid:1) What information does it have as to just how free and fair the local election process in Mozambique

was?

(cid:1) Does it intend to support and,
technical and human resources?

if so, how? the forthcoming presidential elections with material,

(cid:1) Is it prepared to encourage the training of electoral staff in Mozambique, both professional and
voluntary, and likewise to make the population (particularly schoolchildren) aware of the rules and
values of democracy? What instruments and programmes would it use to this end?

Answer given by Mr Nielson on behalf of the Commission

(26 January 2004)

The Union has observed the Municipality elections of 19 November 2003. The Union Election
Observation Mission was led by Chief Observer Mr José Maria Mendiluce (Spain), a Member of the
European Parliament
the ACP-EU. The Mission
comprises a Core Team of six experts, 14 Long Term Observers (LTO) and 41 Short Term Observers (STO)
belonging to 14 Member States. In addition, Switzerland provided 4 STOs.

the Joint Parliamentary Assembly of

(MEP) and of

In his Preliminary Statement, the Union Chief Observer stated that both the electoral campaign and the
Election Day took place in a calm atmosphere free from intimidation, without any serious incidents or
irregularities to remark. The media covered the electoral contest in an adequate manner. Nevertheless,
some shortcomings in the administration of the elections should be addressed. In particular, the handling
of the voters’ lists, the way CNE operates, and complaint and appeals mechanisms.

27.3.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 78 E/301

The Commission is providing, through the European Development Fund (EDF), support to both elections
i.e. Municipal with EUR 4,4 million and General and Presidential foreseen for 2004 with EUR 12,4 million.
The Community support is being monitored by an expert financed by Sweden and Ireland. This support is
provided through the National Budget subject to the fulfilment of conditions. The Commission is also
supporting voters with civic education for the local elections and next years’ elections through a specific
programme with non-governmental organisations (NGOs) funded with EUR 720 000 from the European
Initiative for Democracy and Human Rights.

Furthermore, the Union is providing assistance through its Member States for programmes related to civic
education, training of electoral staff and regional authorities. Assistance was given by Member States as
well as to the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) to monitor the elections and provide
training programmes.

(2004/C 78 E/0303)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-3595/03

by Claude Moraes (PSE) to the Commission

(1 December 2003)

Subject: Disability

I have been asked by a number of London-based disability NGOs, including SCOPE London, based in
Islington, about possible progress towards a horizontal directive on disability.

Also, could the Commission please give its view on the success of the European Year of People with
Disabilities, as we move towards its completion?

Answer given by Mrs Diamantopoulou on behalf of the Commission

(7 January 2004)

The Commission understands the calls for a new directive in areas other than employment, but it believes
for a number of reasons that it would not be appropriate at this time for the Commission and the Member
States to launch themselves into the process of a new piece of legislation.

Its current focus must remain the correct transposition and implementation by Member States of the
provisions of the Equal Treatment in Directive 2000/78/EC (1) into their national legislation. The deadline
involve major changes to existing rules in certain
for this was 2 December 2003. This Directive will
Member States and, when correctly transposed, will provide people with disabilities with a very clear legal
framework to protect them from unfair treatment.

Any new initiative needs to be the result of a wider reflection on the various instruments which already
exist at Community level to achieve equality in practice. In this regard, the Commission intends to launch
a public consultation (Green Paper) in Spring 2004 on the Future Strategy to combat discrimination. This
paper will take stock of progress made in Union anti-discrimination policy and will raise issues/questions
regarding future policy development. It will also address the new challenges posed by the enlargement of
the Union and will help to map out the way ahead for Union action on its policies against discrimination
over the next five years or more.

The Commission has asked Member States, in the context of the reports on the application of the Directive
which they must provide to the Commission by December 2005, to examine the issue of disability
discrimination outside the employment field.

The European Year of People with Disabilities (EYPD) itself was designed as a very inclusive process and
structured in a unique way so that disabled people themselves were able to input into defining the concept
of the Year, and their organisations had a critical role in shaping the corresponding campaign at Union