EU Deploys Election Observation Missions in Sri Lanka and Mozambique

Colombo (The Brussels Morning Newspaper) – The European Union has announced the deployment of an Election Observation Mission (EOM) to Sri Lanka for the upcoming Presidential Election on 21 September 2024, following a request from the Sri Lankan Election Commission. This marks the EU's continued commitment to supporting democratic processes in Sri Lanka, having previously deployed EOMs on six occasions, the last being in 2019. Josep Borrell, the EU's High Representative for Foreign Affairs, appointed Nacho Sánchez Amor as Chief Observer, emphasizing the mission's role in promoting credible and transparent elections. Sánchez Amor expressed his honor in leading the mission, highlighting the election's significance for Sri Lanka's reform and healing processes. The EOM will consist of a Core Team, including a Deputy Chief Observer and nine election professionals, who will arrive in Colombo on 13 August 2024. This will be followed by the deployment of 26 long-term observers later in August and 32 short-term observers during the election week, ensuring comprehensive monitoring throughout the electoral process. In a parallel initiative, the EU is also set to deploy an EOM to Mozambique for the general elections on 9 October, responding to an invitation from the National Election Commission. Laura Ballarin Cereza has been appointed as Chief Observer for this mission. The EU has a history of monitoring elections in Mozambique since the country’s return to multi-party elections in 1994, aiming to provide an impartial review of the electoral process. Both missions will conclude with a preliminary statement and a final report, offering insights and recommendations for future electoral processes, reinforcing the EU's commitment to democratic values in both nations.