MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on the monitoring of elections in the Democratic Republic of Congo
6.6.2012 - (2012/2673(RSP))
pursuant to Rule 110(2) of the Rules of Procedure
Mariya Nedelcheva, Filip Kaczmarek, Gay Mitchell, Michèle Striffler, Michael Gahler, Cristian Dan Preda, Roberta Angelilli, Alf Svensson, Peter Šťastný, Rafał Trzaskowski, Mario Mauro on behalf of the PPE Group
See also joint motion for a resolution RC-B7-0280/2012
B7‑0290/2012
European Parliament resolution on the monitoring of elections in the Democratic Republic of Congo (2012/2673(RSP))
The European Parliament,
- having regard to the Declaration of Principles for International Election Observation commemorated at the United Nations in October 2005,
- having regard to the Commission's Communication on EU election assistance and observation missions,
- having regard to the mandate of the Election Observation Mission (EU EOM) deployed by the European Union for the presidential and parliamentary elections of 28 November to provide a detailed, impartial and independent assessment of the electoral process, within the national and regional legal framework, but also in accordance with international standards and the international treaties signed by the Democratic Republic of Congo,
- having regard to the mandate of the European Parliament delegation that joined the EU EOM and endorsed its conclusions,
- having regard to the statement of 9 December 2011 by Baroness Ashton, High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the European Commission, on the electoral process in the Democratic Republic of Congo,
- having regard to the statement of 20 December 2011 by Baroness Ashton, High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the European Commission, on the electoral process in Democratic Republic of Congo,
- having regard to the Final Report of the European Union's Election Observation Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo and its recommendations,
A. whereas the European Union's Election Observation Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo has concluded in its final report that the electoral process was marred by a lack of transparency and credibility due to the numerous irregularities and cases of fraud detected,
B. whereas the EU EOM in the DRC has drawn up 22 recommendations for the Congolese authorities aimed essential measures for improving the transparency and credibility of elections that are technically feasible before the forthcoming provincial and local elections,
C. whereas the presidential and parliamentary elections in the Democratic Republic of Congo have been marked by a significant legislative and legal vacuum,
D. whereas the date set for the holding of provincial and local elections, namely 25 March 2012, has not been respected and no timetable has yet been drawn up for these elections,
E. whereas the High Council for Audiovisual and Communications (CSAC) was unable to ensure that the principle of equal media coverage for all candidates was respected,
1. Welcomes the fact that the Congolese people turned out in large numbers for the presidential and parliamentary elections of November 2011, thereby demonstrating their deep attachment to the building of a genuine democracy in the DRC;
2. Deplores the failure to respect the electoral legal framework, in particular, the legal deadline for the publication of lists of voters and the display of electoral lists by polling station, the use of state resources for electioneering, among other violations of electoral law;
3. Emphasizes the importance of setting up a Constitutional Court that will ensure more transparency in the electoral process, especially as regards the settlement of electoral disputes;
4. Reiterates its finding that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has failed and recommends fundamental reforms in several areas after its composition has been revised in order to ensure genuine parity and make it more representative of Congolese civil society;
5. Emphasizes the crucial role of Congolese civil society in the electoral process in terms of promoting civic education and national observation;
6. Emphasizes the need to improve the functioning of the electoral register which is facing a series of problems affecting the credibility of the INEC: ineffective register clean-up, existence of duplicates in the final register, late publication of the final lists, list of persons omitted badly managed, a failure to display the lists in polling stations and the inappropriate use of the register of exemptions;
7. Urges that the High Council for Audiovisual and Communications (CSAC) be allowed to operate effectively and efficiently so as to ensure that the principle of equal media coverage for all candidates in the elections is respected;
8. Strongly condemns the deplorable violence and violations of fundamental rights during the elections of 28 November and calls upon the Congolese authorities to make every effort to hold the necessary investigations to find the perpetrators; welcomes and encourages the work of the security forces and the law enforcement agencies in their efforts effectively to address all the human rights violations;
9. Calls upon the Congolese authorities to safeguard by every possible means the right to demonstrate and freedom of expression and opinion and the right to security and physical integrity of all Congolese citizens;
10. Notes that discrimination against women which stands in the way of their full participation in political life is continuing, despite the fact that the principle of equality between men and women and gender parity in the various decision-making bodies is enshrined in the Constitution; proposes that all necessary measures be taken to ensure the integration of women in political life and that the electoral law be amended to ensure the principle of gender parity;
11. Regrets the fact that the date set for the holding of provincial and local elections, namely 25 March 2012, was not respected, and calls upon the Congolese authorities, particularly the INEC, to prepare a detailed timetable for the upcoming elections in the country, namely the provincial and local elections, so that they can be held within a reasonable period of time and that the principles of transparency, credibility and reliability are respected;
12. Encourages the Commission and Member States to consider the possibility of introducing the principle of conditionality, making the Union's financial contribution to the electoral process in the DRC dependent upon the effective implementation of the recommendations of the EU EOM;
13. Emphasizes that the security and humanitarian situation in the country remains a threat to stability in the region and stresses that peace, security, democracy and good governance are preconditions for the long-term development of the DRC;
14. Calls upon the countries of the Great Lakes region and the international community to maintain a high level of commitment to jointly promote peace, stability, democracy and good governance in the region;
15. Calls upon the European Union and its Member States to support the efforts of the Congolese authorities and the regional organizations to promote democracy, good governance and the holding of free and transparent elections;
16. Calls upon the Congolese authorities to ratify the African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance at the earliest opportunity;
17. Calls for all the recommendations contained in the final report of the EU EOM to be taken into account and urges the European Commission to ensure that these recommendations are able to contribute to the dialogue that all components of Congolese society should embark upon without delay;
18. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, the African Union, the governments of countries the Great Lakes region, the UN Human Rights Council and authorities of the Democratic Republic of Congo.