Democracy Support and ElectionCoordination Group

- Annual Report 2017 -(8th Legislature)

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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

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I. Introduction and way forward

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

It was an eventful year for election observation. Besides carrying out eleven successfulelection 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, theestablishment of a Joint Code of Conduct with the four assemblies observing in the OSCEarea was considered, with the final Code to be adopted by the Group in 2018. Finally, thechallenges and questions which the Kenyan elections in August brought to the fore (includingpossible repercussions for international observers), triggered a serious “rethink” of the futureof election observation, including consideration of the growing role of technology. A DEGelection observation conference on the various electoral issues would thus be organised in2018, with the participation of representatives of EU national parliaments and internationalorganisations.

Democracy support activities have been carried out with nine priority countries (Ukraine,Moldova, Tunisia, Myanmar, Georgia, Peru, Nigeria, Morocco and Tanzania), one priorityregional parliament (Pan-African Parliament), and one priority region (Western Balkans andTurkey) - 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 civilservants from Tunisia’s Assembly of the People’s Representatives to Brussels), themultilateral seminar on the “Legislative Cycle” in June (with the participation of more than60 Committee Chairs from the DEG priority countries), the International Day of Democracyin September, as well as the active participation in the various events and meetings of the EPAfrican Week in November of some 50 parliamentarians from DEG’s African priorityparliaments.

The growing political interest and recognised added-value in complementing other DEG’sdemocracy support activities, led to a further development of a wide-range of parliamentarymediation and dialogue activities, including inter-party dialogue and consensus building,prevention of election-related violence, parliamentary support to conflict prevention andpeace processes as well as the EP Young Political Leaders Programme. Prominent examplesof such activities carried out in 2017 include the case of Ukraine (where the Parliament, inparallel to its full array of democracy support and capacity building activities, continued theimplementation of the newly established concept of Jean Monnet Dialogues), the successfulmediation by Commissioner Hahn and three Members of the European Parliament in theFormer Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (which led to the establishment of a newGovernment in May 2017), the development of a new methodology focusing on pre-electionviolence 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’sNeighbourhood and Western Balkans under the Young Political Leaders Programme.

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The EP Mediation Support Service has thus been upgraded and established as a unit tocontinue building up on the above-mentioned innovative concepts and methodology andresponding 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 thusresponding to the EU policy shift in favour of this priority region with the aim to facilitate theaccession process. “The High-Level Round Table on the European integration process inregional perspective” was held in November bringing together for the first time leaders ofpolitical groups in the Western Balkan parliaments. A significant political exchange withrelevant MEPs - rapporteurs, shadow rapporteurs and delegation chairs took place.

DEG’s engagement in human rights over the year was active and constant. DEG wasinvolved in providing support to the laureates, including via silent diplomacy. Actions withSakharov laureates, fellows and human rights defenders helped raise EP’s effectiveness andrenown in this area. Participation of numerous Members, including the President, Vice-presidents, AFET, DEVE and DROI Chairs, highlighted strong political ownership andcontributed to high visibility of such action. A Sakharov week in December saw the solemnawarding of the Prize to Venezuela’s Democratic Opposition and full programmes for thelaureates 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, withspecific action on Denis Mukwege’s security and Raif Badawi’s imprisonment. TheSakharov Fellowship is now well-established and highly appreciated by Members andparticipants. Its second edition was successful and increased the visibility of EP in key thirdcountries; a growing network of fellows now complements the activities of the Sakharovnetwork. 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 ofthe Sakharov Prize; with a Sakharov photo book and campaign as a major promotion tool andan exhibition which will tour the Member States in 2018.

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

David McAllister Linda McAvan

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II. Election observation activities

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

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

Timor Leste - Presidential Elections - 20 March 2017

The seven member EP delegation observed the Presidential Elections in Timor Leste on 20March 2017. The delegation was chaired by Anna Gomes (S&D, Portugal). The PresidentialElections were the first to take place without international assistance since Timoreseindependence in 2002. The presence of an EU EOM was very much appreciated by theauthorities 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 Partycandidate, Minister for Education). The Delegation also met with: Prime Minister Rui Mariade Araújo; Aderito Hugo da Costa, Speaker of the National Assembly; Sakharov Prizelaureate and former President and former Prime Minister "Xanana" Gusmao; Nobel PeacePrize winner and former President and former Prime Minister José Ramos-Horta; heads ofthe election administrations, with the Bishop of Baucau; and with representatives from civilsociety. Prior to the official start of the programme, the Chair and one other member attendedthe only televised debate between the eight candidates. The Head of the EU delegation in Diliattended high level meetings in the programme and offered a dinner to the MEPs while theEP delegation hosted a dinner for the EU Ambassador, the Portuguese Ambassador and theChief Observer.

On Election Day, the EP delegation split into three teams, travelling to Liquica, Manatuto andBaucau. 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) andAntonio da Conceiçao. The preliminary results showed a decisive victory for Lu-Olo with59% of the vote, and Antonio da Conceiçao with 30% of the vote (57% and 32% respectivelyfor final count). No other candidate obtained more than 3% of the vote, and the turnout was77.16%. Given these results, no second round was organised.

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

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Armenia - Parliamentary Elections - 2 April 2017

A six member delegation, led by Ms Heidi Hautala (Greens/EFA, Finland), observed in theframework of an International EOM (IEOM) the legislative elections held on 2 April,working closely with the OSCE/ODIHR, the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly and theParliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe. These elections were the first held afterthe 2015 revision of the Constitution, which enshrined reforms allowing Armenia to movefrom a semi-presidential to a parliamentary political system, with the reduction of the powersof the president in favour of the prime minister and the parliament. The electoral system, aswell, 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 otherhand, President Sargsyan and Minister of Foreign Affairs Nalbandyan, both met by the EPDelegation, insisted on the measures taken to safeguard the secrecy of the vote, with theinstallation of video cameras in polling stations and of biometric devices to check the data ofeach voter - with EU support.

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

Such shortcomings were, thus, reflected in the preliminary findings which were issued by theIEOM, to which the EP Delegation fully subscribed, and which noted that while fundamentalfreedoms were generally respected, the elections were tainted by credible information aboutvote-buying and by pressure on civil servants and employees of private companies. Thiscontributed 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 theTasurkyan Alliance (27,36%), the Yelk Coalition (7.79%) and the Armenian RevolutionaryFederation (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 atotal of 105).

Looking forward, the EP delegation stated that ensuring the Armenian voters’ confidence infuture election processes remained essential: EU support, as well as civil societyinvolvement, was key in that respect. Political dialogue, as foreseen by the relevantprovisions of the EU-Armenia Comprehensive Enhanced Partnership Agreement, couldtherefore be an opportunity to address these shortcomings and remind of the value of thefindings of the Final OSCE/ODIHR report, and of the need to address pendingrecommendations.

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Gambia - Parliamentary Elections - 6 April 2017

A six member EP delegation, led by Jean Lambert (Greens/EFA, UK), observed thelegislative elections in Gambia on 6 April. These elections were the first parliamentaryelections to be conducted in a democratic environment following the defeat of formerPresident Jammeh at the December 2016 presidential elections. The Delegation was thusintegrated 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, theformer ruling party APRC and the GDC, the chairman of the Independent ElectionCommission, the director of the Gambia Radio and Television Services, representatives ofcivil 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 andBanjul/Kanifing. Despite a highly imperfect electoral system inherited from the past regimeand tight time constraints, the conduct of the elections was found to be held in acommendable manner. All teams reached similar conclusions noting the strict respect ofprocedures, the peaceful and positive atmosphere among voters, polling station staff andrepresentatives of the candidates as well as the large presence of young people among pollingofficials and party representatives.

Despite the high number of candidates and the risk of fragmentation of votes, the clearwinner of these elections was the United Democratic Party (UDP) winning 31 seats of the 53directly elected seats in Parliament. The other parties of the Coalition 2016 were alsorepresented 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 independentcandidate had been elected. Unfortunately, only 20 women competed for the elections out of239 candidates, with only two women finally being elected.

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

Kosovo - Parliamentary Elections - 11 June 2017

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

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

Meetings were held with the main stakeholders, i.e. President Thaçi, acting Prime MinisterMustafa, 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,

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Avdullah Hoti for LDK), with the representatives of the media and civil society, and with theHead of EU Office / EUSR and Heads of EU Missions. During these meetings, and beside theexchanges 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 theperceived disinterest and decreasing involvement of the EU in the country and the region, andto 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 welladministered without incidents. Despite pressures and intimidations during the campaignbetween candidates / lists running for the 10 seats reserved for the Serb minority, no majorincidents occurred. Despite fears fuelled by some parties, the number of busses chartered byBelgrade to bring hundreds of eligible voters from Serbia to the Northern part of Kosovo wasrather contained, with limited impact on the elections in the region.

The PAN coalition (including the Democratic Party of Kosovo, the Alliance for the Future ofKosovo and the Initiative for Kosovo) won 39 seats out of 100 (the 20 remaining seats beingreserved for representatives from the minorities), allowing their candidate to be appointedPrime Minister, while Vetëvendosje won 32 seats and the LAA coalition (includingDemocratic 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 partsof the country, the delegation insisted on the consequences of the low record ofimplementation of the recommendations from the previous elections (notably the timeframenecessary to prepare election, the financing of the political campaign, and the independenceof 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 theparliamentary 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 holdelections was considered by the EP delegation to be a positive step as it allowed for theparticipation of the main opposition party. Nevertheless, the delegation was also concernedthat flaws in the agreement had led to selective and inconsistent application of the electorallaw and had reduced public trust in the electoral process.

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

On Election Day the EP delegation split into three teams covering the Tirana, Durres/Elbasanand Vlora regions. MEPs observed no significant problems and commended the generallypeaceful atmosphere, although they commented on the (possibly threatening) presence ofgroups of party activists near polling stations. However their generally positive conclusionsabout Election Day were not fully in line with the OSCE/ODIHR’s findings that there hadbeen a large number of procedural irregularities with a statistically significant number ofpolling 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 theSMI winning 19 seats.

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

Five members, led by Laima Andrikiene (EPP, Lithuania) and joining forces with theOSCE/ODIHR and a delegation from the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, participated in theInternational 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 EPdelegation; the programme also included meetings with media representatives, NGOs, theelectoral administration and with representatives of political parties. Electoral law was seenas addressing some previous recommendations such as the decriminalisation of defamationand the elimination of overlapping jurisdiction between election commissions and courts.However, other long-standing recommendations remaining unaddressed included issues suchas the disproportionate limitations to the right to be elected: the 3 political parties of the StateGreat Khural were thus the only ones allowed to field candidates.

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

On Election Day, the EP Delegation was deployed in the capital city Ulaan Baatar, inZuumod and in Darkhan, with the three EP teams visiting more than 50 polling stations, bothin urban and rural areas. Members, generally, noted that voting took place in a calm andpeaceful manner and were impressed by the good functioning of the biometric identificationequipment and ballot scanners; the common appreciation of Members was that Politicalparties had contested in a genuine competitive and well-organised competition. This wasrecognised by the statement of preliminary findings of the IEOM, which also welcomed thefact that freedoms of assembly and expression had generally been respected; on the otherhand, it was also underlined that the protracted resolution of complaints as well as pendingcourt cases (often linked to corruption allegations), had led to uncertainty regardingcandidacies, causing confusion, with voters not knowing up until very E-day whether courtswould invalidate candidacies.

The election results of the 1st round on 26 June saw no candidate securing an absolutemajority, with Khaltmaa Battulga (Democratic Party), with 38,11%, and M. MiyeegombynEngkbohld (Mongolian People’s Party), with 30,32%, making it to the second round. Thiswas the first time a run-off had to be organised in the country, and procedures proved to lackclarity, with the General Electoral Commission deciding, in an emergency session, to movethe second round date to 7 July. This deadline proved to be too short for the twoParliamentary 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 theground, and thus witnessed the victory of M. Battulga with 55,15% (with a lower turnout of 60%, whencompared to the 68% of the first round).

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While the EP Delegation Chair stressed that the overall campaign narrative had discouragedvoters, especially the youth, from voting, she also emphasised that the EU placed greatimportance 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 sustainabledevelopment and good governance (GSP+) was also noted; it was thus hoped that theshortcomings identified as to the implementation of some ICCPR provisions would betackled 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 delegationwas chaired by Ms Ana Gomes (S&D, Portugal). The elections were organised and tookplace in an orderly and well-administered manner, and no major issues regarding theirpreparation and conduct were raised by the observers. It is worth noting that severalrecommendations following the presidential elections in March had been implemented, whichdemonstrates the willingness and dedication of the Timorese authorities to improve theoverall electoral process.

Amongst others, the EP delegation held meetings with the Presidents / representatives of themain political parties running (CNRT, Fretilin, PLP and PD), with Prime Minister Araùjo,with representatives of the election administration (CNE and STAE), with representativesfrom civil society, and with former Presidents and former Prime Ministers Xanana Gusmaoand 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 highparticipation (76%). The outcome showed an unexpected tie between the two main outgoingruling parties (with less than 0,2% difference): Fretilin (party of President Lu-Olo and PrimeMinister Araujo) and the CNRT (party of Xanana Gusmao), with respectively 23 and 22 seatseach, out of 65. Out of the 21 political parties competing, only three other parties passed the4% threshold (raised from 3% compared to the last parliamentary elections), the PLP (8seats), the PD (7 seats), and Khunto (5 seats).

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

Kenya - General Elections - 8 August 2017

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

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

The day after voting, the opposition cried foul, issuing a press statement that the election ITsystems had been hacked and the election results fundamentally compromised, thusquestioning the integrity of the electoral process. The final results were announced by theIEBC on 11 August, according to which Mr Kenyatta (incumbent) won the elections with54.3% of the vote to Mr Odinga with 44.7% share of the vote. International observersunanimously called on political leaders to act responsibly, to pursue any complaints throughlegal dispute mechanisms and to ensure their supporters remained calm. Following a petitionby Mr Odinga, on 1 September the Supreme Court of Kenya declared the result of thePresidential election as “invalid, null and void”. The re-run of the Presidential elections thustook place on 26 October. It was boycotted by the opposition, and Mr Kenyatta won with98% of the vote on a turnout of only 39%.

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

Kyrgyzstan - Presidential Elections - 15 October 2017

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

Meetings took place between the EEAS and EU HoMs and representatives from the maincandidates, media and civil society. Bilateral meetings with Kyrgyz authorities also tookplace including Prime Minister Sapar Isakov and Minister of Foreign Affairs ErlanAbdyldayev with both meetings focussing on EU-Kyrgyz relations and on developments inthe region.

On Election Day the EP delegation split into three teams covering the Bishkek, Kara Baltaand Balykchy regions. Voting was assessed as bad or very bad in 6% of the approximately1100 polling booths observed by the IEOM and counting was, reportedly, significantly moreproblematic. The presence of police in many polling stations was noted, although there wasno evidence of clear interference. Issues of access for disabled voters was also noted.

Contrary to many expectations, Sooronbay Jeenbekov (Social Democratic Party) won theelections 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) obtained33.75% and conceded defeat on 16 October, without congratulating the winner, and

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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 tocampaign freely. During the campaign, TV debates between the candidates contributed topolitical pluralism. While there was no violence observed on Election Day, a number ofserious problems persisted. There was evidence that the Central Commission for Electionwas biased in favour of the eventual winner in its adjudication of disputes, particularly in thelast 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 supporterstook place, with outgoing President Atambayev threatening, on Election Day that the trendwould continue. It was also noted there is a need to follow up of the implementation of theexisting long-standing OSCE/ODIHR recommendations, several of which had not beenaddressed.

Honduras - General Elections - 26 November 2017

A delegation of five MEPs with José Inácio Faria (EPP, Portugal) in the Chair, observed theGeneral Election on 26 November 2017. The situation was extremely tense, with outbreaks ofviolence 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 ChiefObserver and the EU Head of Delegation and ambassadors of France, Germany and Spain toHonduras. 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 ruralareas in Tegucigalpa, Valle de los Ángeles, Santa Ana y Santa Lucía. Theseareas include regions with high levels of ethnic minorities (Lenca). Election Day waspeaceful overall, and there were no remarkable security or logistical incidents. Women wereparticularly involved in the process, a high number of them participating in the managementof the polling stations.

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

While E-Day itself was peaceful, the days and weeks that followed were very tense. A highnumber of recommendations made by the 2013 European Union EOM were notimplemented, in particular around reform of the electoral system. The Supreme ElectoralTribunal (Tribunal Supremo Electoral) performance was particularly poor; the first advanceof results was delayed, and, transmission of scrutiny data was delayed a number of times inspite of the election infrastructure, which was said to allow for instant communication.

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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 inthe 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 theParliamentary elections in Nepal on 26 November 2017. The EP delegation met leaders orrepresentatives of most of the main political parties. Meetings also took place withrepresentatives of the election administration, civil society, the media and other internationalobservers and the EU Heads of Missions present in Kathmandu. Discussion in the meetingsindicated 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. Ingeneral MEPs were content with the conduct of the election, however on a number ofoccasions they were prevented from properly observing proceedings by police or pollingstation officials. They made a strong request that the EOM should request action by theCentral 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 pollinggenerally ran smoothly with only relatively minor irregularities. Despite the generallypeaceful environment, a dissident Maoist group detonated a number of improvised explosivedevices. The decision of the Nepalese Central Election Commission to remove theaccreditation of two long-term observers - for "inappropriate” behaviour (something rejectedby the EOM) - created difficulties for the EOM and had an impact on the perception of theduty and role of international observers.

(ii) Second phase

For the second phase of the mission on 7 December 2017, Neena Gill led the EP Delegationof six MEPs; four of whom had been present in the first phase and two were new. Meetingstook place with leaders or representatives of most of the main political parties whom thedelegation had not managed to meet during the first phase. Further meetings also took placewith representatives of civil society and other international observers. As no results had beenannounced following the first phase, the meetings focussed on the general politicalenvironment. On E-Day, the EP delegation split into three teams, travelling toKathmandu/Lalitpur, Pokhara and Dhangadhi. In general MEPs were more content than theyhad been on 26 November with the conduct of the election, in particular they welcomed thefact that there were fewer instances of being prevented by police or polling station officialsfrom properly observing proceedings. There was no possibility to observe counting whichstarted 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 scaleviolence and intimidation. Polling generally ran smoothly with only relatively minorirregularities. 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 theNepalese administration about the role and duties of international observers, which continuedto cause some difficulties for the EOM.

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III. Parliamentary capacity building in third countries

At the end of 2014 DEG agreed on a global concept for the development of EP democracysupport activities, named the Comprehensive Democracy Support Approach (CDSA). Themain objective is to ensure that all EP parliamentary support activities are carried out in acoherent and complementary manner, to be achieved by focusing as much as possible onproviding 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, theelections that the European Parliament observed, and the commitment of the EP partners, theDEG 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-AfricanParliament), adding three countries to the priority list (Georgia, Peru, and Nigeria), putting onstand-by activities in Morocco and Tanzania (where a limited number of activities would becarried out), and organising pre- and post-electoral activities with a limited number of othercountries (Sri Lanka, Jordan, Kenya). In this context, activities in 2017 were carried our asfollows.

UkraineLead Member: Elmar Brok

In the framework of the Needs Assessment Mission conducted by former EP President PatCox in September 2015-February 2016, a Memorandum of Understanding between the EPPresident and the Speaker of the Verkhovna Rada and an Administrative CooperationAgreement between the two Secretary Generals were signed. Both documents have beenrenewed in 2017 until the end of the EP 8th Legislature. In their framework, and with a viewto implementing the roadmap and the recommendations contained in the EP NeedsAssessment Mission Report in 2016, two parallel tracks have been implemented: a politicaland an administrative one.

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

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

MoldovaLead Member: Petras Auštrevičius

A study visit for senior officials of the Parliament of Moldova took place in May/June 2017in cooperation with the UNDP. The visit covered the workings of the General Secretariat, inparticular the Directorates General for Internal and External Policies and the Legal Service. Itfocussed on activities in the standing committees and plenary: document flow;communication/cooperation/coordination of the administrators in the secretariat with MEPsand their assistants in the legislative process; briefings on the work of committees (draft

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agenda, meeting documents, votes, minutes, calendar, support analyses) and documentationtransmission to the plenary services.

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

TunisiaLead Member: Michael Gahler

The Tunisian week, held in Brussels on 2-4 May under the leadership of Michael Gahler, leadmember, was undoubtedly the key event taking place in terms of capacity building sinceTunisia was included as a priority country by the DEG. Former EP President Enrique BaronCrespo had previously prepared the ground, with a fact finding visit to Tunis in February2017 allowing to identify the priority areas to be subsequently discussed.

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

Other activities organised later in the year included meetings with the Tunisian ConseilSupérieur de la Magistrature (CSM), which visited Brussels in November, meeting a numberof MEPs, and the participation of a 7-strong Tunisian Delegation to the African week the EPhosted 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 withAfrica”.

MyanmarLead Member: Judith Sargentini

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

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Previously, a study visit for MPs of the Myanmar Parliament took place in December 2016focussing on the functioning of a modern multi-national parliament. In November/December2016, two officials of the Myanmar Parliament (Democracy Fellows) were seconded to theEP and focussed on the operation of committees. In April 2017 a group of three MPs andthree officials participated in a joint visit with Sri Lankan MPs covering the budgetary role ofa modern parliament. Myanmar MPs also participated in the seminar on the legislative cyclein June 2017.

GeorgiaLead Member: Ana Gomes

Georgia was included in December 2016 on the list of priority countries for EP capacitybuilding activities, following the 2016 parliamentary elections. In February 2017, AnaGomes, lead member, undertook a fact finding mission to Tbilisi, and identified, jointly withthe Georgian partners, the areas of activities: parliamentary oversight of the executive, thelegislative process and the role and place of parliamentary committees, reinforcement of thecapacities, women empowerment in politics and enhancing capacity of women legislators andthe 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 membersof the Parliament attended the joint seminar on the legislative cycle. In September, adelegation of eight staff members, led by the Secretary General of the Parliament, paid astudy visit focusing on research and analysis capacities (DG EPRS).

PeruLead Member: Renate Weber

Peru was included in December 2016 on the list of priority countries for EP capacity buildingactivities, with EU Chief Observer (2016 general and presidential elections) Renate Weberbeing appointed lead member by the DEG for democracy support activities. Thus, in May2017, Renate Weber undertook a fact-finding Mission to Lima. In this framework, a series ofmeetings with both the Congreso leadership (then President Luz Salgado) and administrationallowed to identify possible areas of cooperation.

Subsequently, four Peruvian Congreso Committee Chairs, and Officials, participated in thejoint seminar on the Legislative cycle hosted by the European Parliament in early June. Whilethe Peruvian Congreso had warmly welcomed its inclusion in the CDSA list of prioritycountries, practical cooperation was however hindered by the quick rotation of its office-holders (one year mandates), which created complications in “institutional memory” groundsafter new leadership took office in mid-2017. The Peruvian Congreso, thus, failed to proposecandidates for the democracy fellowship offered by the EP - on the basis of the May talks - inthe 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.

NigeriaLead 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

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Nigeria (NASS) - a comprehensive programme of successful capacity-building activities wasdeveloped throughout the year. Most of the activities took place in Brussels, includingparticipation 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 “WomenEmpowerment 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 visitof Nigerian legislators to the EP on the role of parliament in the budget cycle and theoversight of the security sector in December.

In addition, a delegation of MEPs - lead by Santiago Fisas - took part in two joint EP-NASSseminars 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 withmore than 250 legislators (from the National Assembly and the 36 State Assemblies) activelyparticipating. 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 counterpartsexpressed a strong desire that such high-level EP-NASS seminar should become an AnnualEvent. 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 ofthe EU Court of Justice on the EU-Morocco fisheries agreement, which allowed forcooperation 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 andmonitoring” 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 keyspeakers in the various panels which were organised.

At the same time, contacts with the French Assemblée Nationale, which is in charge of theEU twinning project, allowed to clear the ground in order for cooperation to continue withother 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 inDodoma, an EP capacity-building mission to Tanzania in May (as part of a joint DEGdelegation to Kenya and Tanzania), as well as the participation of several members of theTanzanian parliament in the DEG high-level capacity building seminar on the “Legislativecycle” in June, relations with the country have stalled. The situation in Tanzania graduallydeteriorated throughout 2017, leading to the (not fatal) shooting of the opposition chief whipin Dodoma in September. Such circumstances made any further capacity building activitieswith the Tanzanian Parliament difficult.

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Pan-African ParliamentLead Member: Michael Gahler

In November 2015, the DEG designated the Pan African Parliament (PAP) as a priorityregional Parliament for democracy support activities. In Midrand in May 2016, the Chair ofthe EP/PAP Delegation, Michael Gahler, and the President of the PAP signed a declarationexpressing their enthusiasm for the development of a structured and comprehensiveprogramme of parliamentary capacity building. In this context, in late 2016 the EuropeanCommission (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 topicssuch as agenda setting, organisation of the plenary, follow-up on resolutions and legislationadopted, election observation and mediation activities of a parliament, committee work,information technology for a paperless parliament, interpretation and translation, humanresources, etc. 20 PAP parliamentarians participated actively in the DEG high-level capacitybuilding seminar on the “Legislative cycle” in June and 12 parliamentarians (including thePAP Speaker Hon. Roger Nkodo Dang) took part in the European Parliament’s African Weekin November. All these activities were fully coherent with and in the spirit of the EU-AfricaSummit in November 2017, which triggered additional support for these exchanges tocontinue 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 specificrecommendations or for the development of certain capacities of the Parliament. In suchcases, post-election activities were organised under the leadership of the Chief Observer.

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

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

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IV. Pre-accession activities

In 2017 PAAC organised for the first time a high-level Round Table on the EuropeanIntegration Process of the Western Balkans as well as six major conferences open to the civilsociety and the media, which brought together MEPs and MPs from the EU enlargementcountries. Two of them were held in the region, while the other four took place in Brussels. Inaddition, a study visit was organized for the European Integration Committee of theParliament of Montenegro. The Fellowship Programme, which was established in 2013,continued throughout 2017, enabling eight officials from the beneficiary parliaments to workin 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 WesternBalkans in a Regional Perspective(Brussels, 20-21 November 2017)

The European integration process requires from each country concerned substantialadjustments ranging from the legislative transposition of the acquis communautaire to itsimplementation, structural reforms and even changes to its political and societal culture. Eachcountry’s evolution is judged upon its own merits, in particular via the mechanism of theEuropean Commission’s annual reports. However, the regional dimension - cross-bordercooperation, developing connectivity and sharing best practices - is an essential part of theintegration 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 andEU national MPs sharing time across overlapping programmes, proved an overwhelmingsuccess 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 Balkansparliaments exchanged with the AFET standing rapporteurs and the relevant EP DelegationChairs (10 MEPs present), allowed a particularly extensive and frank discussion includingcandid comments on the implementation of reforms and the political culture, in particularwithin the parliaments. Country-specific issues were discussed with the respective standingrapporteurs 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 Committeeon Regional Development (REGI) and the Committee on Foreign Affairs (AFET), providedMEPs with the opportunity to debate with their counterparts from the Western Balkans andTurkey 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 ofinstitutional and administrative capacities at local and regional level; ways to enhance the

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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 ofthe Regions.

The conference was attended by 20 MPs from the Western Balkan countries and Turkey,Commissioner Johannes Hahn (for European Neighbourhood Policy and EnlargementNegotiations) as well as the following MEPs: Ms Iskra Mihaylova (ALDE, BG), Chair of theCommittee 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, whichincludes the enlargement countries. The participants highlighted the need to close the gapsbetween transport networks, remove bottlenecks on the free movement of people, goods andservices and overcome technical barriers. Extension of trans-European corridors in theBalkans is needed to integrate the region in the EU. So are digital connectivity, roaming andbroad-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 wasorganized in cooperation with AFET, TRAN and ITRE Committees and with the RegionalCooperation Council.

It was the first inter-parliamentary conference which was organised by the EuropeanParliament in Kosovo. The Assembly of Kosovo made an extraordinary effort to organise theevent in a most status neutral way (no national flags and emblems in the meeting room, onlythe EU flag, badges with names of participants only), thus respecting various positions on thestatus of Kosovo. Despite these precautions, in Bosnia and Herzegovina the representatives of3 ethnic communities could not agree on sending a parliamentary delegation to Kosovo andin 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 andmismanagement of public funds(Brussels, 2-3 May)

One of the most significant EP powers is to ensure that the Commission and the otherinstitutions deal properly with European funds. In particular, it decides whether to grant thedischarge, 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 wasorganized in cooperation with IMCO, BUDG, CONT and INTA Committees, with aparticipation from OLAF and from the European Court of Auditors.

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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 theparliaments of the enlargement region. The first half-day was devoted to the EU PublicProcurement 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 thefight 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 accessioncriteria. The European Commission adopted an enhanced approach on public administrationreform, as set out in the 2014-15 enlargement strategy. This approach anchors publicadministration reform as a pillar of the enlargement process, together with the rule of law andeconomic governance.

The conference, organised in cooperation with AFET Committee and the EU-sponsoredRegional 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: publicadministration reform as one of the fundamentals of Enlargement Policy, the capacity of thestate administration to assume the obligations of membership in the European Union being akey criterion in assessing the readiness of a candidate country; Public administration reformas a systemic, long-term process; Accountability and audit; How parliaments can fosterpublic administration reform through their scrutiny role and cooperation with audit bodies –against a background of widespread lack of parliaments' political will to take autonomy fromthe Executive; depoliticisation and professionalisation of public administration; fightingcorruption 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 EuropeanIntegration (including the Chairs of the Committees on International Relations and EuropeanIntegration) and 2 staff members paid a study visit to the EP and other EU institutions inBrussels. The purpose of the visit was to better acquaint its participants with the work of theEU institutions.

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

Pre-Accession Fellowship Programme 2017

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In 2017 PAAC hosted eight Pre-Accession Fellows for a period of up to six weeks. Duringtheir time in Brussels and Strasbourg the Fellows were placed in a service of the SecretariatGeneral and were assigned to a mentor, who followed them closely and guided them. Theyalso had the opportunity to attend relevant committee and delegation meetings as well as theplenary session. The Fellows came from the administration of the Parliaments of Albania, theFormer Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Kosovo and Montenegro. In order to reinforce theexchange of best practices and facilitate contacts between the former Fellows the use of adedicated Pre - Accession Fellows Network was encouraged.

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V. Sakharov Prize Network and human rights action

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

Sakharov Week 2017

The 2017 Sakharov Prize laureates perceived the Sakharov Prize as an encouragement forVenezuelans fighting for their rights and so to restore the democratic order in a country. Thewide media coverage depicted the EP engagement in human rights and gave visibility to thelaureates and their action. The 2017 Sakharov Prize ceremony made it to 115 news itemsacross 20 countries. The news featured prominently in the press, online and AV media (morethan 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 DemocraticOpposition in Venezuela: National Assembly (represented by Julio Borges) and all politicalprisoners as listed by Foro Penal Venezolano (represented by Leopoldo López, AntonioLedezma, Daniel Ceballos, Yon Goicoechea, Lorent Saleh, Alfredo Ramos and AndreaGonzález). Parliament hosted Julio Borges, Leopoldo Lopez’ parents, Antonio Ledezma,Daniel Ceballos’ wife, Lorent Saleh’s mother, Alfredo Ramos’ lawyer, and AndreaGonzalez’ 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, alsoattended the award ceremony and followed three-day programmes run in parallel, meeting alarge number of MEPs. Lolita Chavez pledged the cause of indigenous communities inGuatemala and insisted on the EU’s moral obligation to act against violations of human rightsinflicted by international companies. Betlehem Isaak advocated for continuous pressure onEritrea 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 apublic debate on “S’opposer en démocratie, s’opposer pour la démocratie”. The exhibitionThey defend our freedoms – 30 years of Sakharov Prize was launched within Parliament, butalso at ‘Lieu d'Europe’ and Strasbourg railway station. It draws on a new Sakharov photobook (see more below).

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

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Sakharov Prize Network (SPN) activities

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

Political support to the laureates, including through silent diplomacy, involved numerousMembers of the European Parliament - in particular, but not only, EP Members of theSakharov 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 theirrespective countries provided all interested MEPs and political bodies with valuableinformation and enabled them to react swiftly, when appropriate.

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

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

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

The monthly SPN Newsletter continued to strengthen links among MEPs and the laureatesthemselves, facilitating mutual understanding of the respective activities. The communicationwith 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 Membersand participants, supports human rights defenders in third countries and strengthens thevisibility of the EP engagement in human rights in key third countries and with civil societyorganisations within the EU. This second, very successful edition gathered a huge number ofapplications (the number went up to over 1,100 against 150 in 2016). The SakharovFellowship involved among others President Tajani, Vice-President Lunacek, 23 MEPs inindividual bilateral meetings with fellows, 32 MEPs at FEMM/DROI meeting (ChairsPanzeri and Blinkevičiūtė).

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Complementary to the laureates’ activities under the Sakharov Prize Network, the fellows actas multipliers - amplifying and carrying the spirit of the Sakharov Prize into theircommunities.

In 2017, the fourteen selected fellows originated from Bosnia and Herzegovina, China, CostaRica, Egypt, Ethiopia, Georgia, Iraq, Cambodia, Pakistan, Peru, Russia, Tunisia, Turkey, andZambia. Their areas of activities covered: business and human rights, minority andindigenous rights, gender-based violence, women’s rights, health, legal assistance, digitalfreedom, 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 rightssummer 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 theMembers as well as to key stakeholders from the EEAS, EP Secretariat, political groups, andBrussels-based human rights NGOs. It provided increased visibility for EP action in manycountries, and for the Sakharov brand in particular.

Follow-up action to the Fellowship included, additionally to the new 30th Sakharov Prizeanniversary book, participation of the 2017 Turkish fellow in the EU-NGO Forum in Brusselson 5-6 December; working contacts with the 2016 Iranian fellow on human rights cases inIran; 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 ofthe International Women’s Day on 8 March- Christophe Deloire representing Reporters without Borders participated in a DROI meetingon Press Freedom Day on 7 May- Salih Osman participated in the Young Political Leaders Programme for Israel and Palestineand met with Members to discuss the Parliament’s role in addressing critical human rightsviolations in Sudan on 28-29 November.

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

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

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

Italy - Hauwa Ibrahim addressed a conference on freedom from violence asempowerment precondition in Rome on 6 March involving MEPs Silvia Costa andEleonora Forenza

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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: HumanRights 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 humanrights situation in the world in Ljubljana on 17 March, and held a meeting with theHuman Rights Committee of the Slovenian Parliament and with the representatives of theChurches in Slovenia

France - Lamya Haji Bashar had a meeting with the City Council of Paris and MayorAnne Hidalgo and at the Foreign Ministry on 27-28 March

Estonia - Kirill Koroteev representing 2009 laureate Memorial met with the ForeignAffairs Committee of the Parliament of Estonia and the Chancellor of Justice on 17-18October, gave a lecture and took part in a debate on Sakharov Prize finalists at TallinnUniversity

Luxembourg, Germany, France - the ‘European tour’ completing the Sakharovweek, 2017 laureates Antonio Ledezma and Patricia de Ceballos representing herhusband Daniel held awareness-raising events in Luxembourg (involving VivianeReding) on 14 December and in Berlin (involving David McAllister) on 15 December.Patricia de Ceballos representing her husband Daniel met in Paris with Deputy MayorPatrick 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 amongparliamentarians from third countries, in particular from the CDSA countries, to help tomainstream human rights into legislation, but also to build networks with human rightsdefenders and support civil society representatives in dialogue with national parliaments andauthorities. Among others three study visits of MPs from Moldova, Morocco and Nigeria, anevent in Ukraine and a high-level conference gathering 60 human rights defenderscontributed to these goals with a focus on women’s rights.

Study visits for parliamentarians from CDSA countries:

Visit of Moldovan parliamentarians, Brussels 6-8 FebruaryA study visit of parliamentarians from the Committee for Interethnic Relations andHuman 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. Thevisit met expectations with an intensive programme, strong political messages and activeparticipation by 10 MEPs who urged Moldova to address pressing human rights issuesand maintain a pro-EU course.

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

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

Visit of Nigerian women parliamentarians, Brussels 9-11 OctoberWomen’ empowerment in politics and enhancing capacity of women legislators was alsothe theme of a study visit of seven women-parliamentarians from both houses ofNigeria’s parliament on 9-11 October. The study-visit gathered all womenparliamentarians sitting in the Nigerian parliament. Seven MEPs took part in theprogramme, 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 FEMMworkshop. The exchanges, highly appreciated by Members, showed genuine interest tocooperate in improving the situation of women in Nigeria and to work on issues like agender equality law and more general on fostering a culture of women’s participation ineducation 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 theEP's annual International Women's Day conference with Members of the EU-28 nationalparliaments. Delegations from Ukraine, Moldova, Tunisia, Morocco, future CDSA countryGeorgia, and Pre-accession countries (Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, MacedoniaMontenegro, Serbia, and Turkey) attended the conference totalling about 80 MPs in Brusselson 8-9 March. The conference included a welcome address by the EP President, Mr AntonioTajani and a speech by Věra Jourová, European Commissioner for Justice, Consumers andGender Equality. It was chaired by Ms Vilija Blinkevičiūtė (S&D, LT) Chair of theCommittee on Women's Rights and Gender Equality. Within the framework of Pre-Accessionand Human Rights activities, DEG contributed by a workshop on Global perspectives:freedom from violence and empowerment thus following up to its conference on violenceagainst women in Tunis in July 2016 which gathered parliamentarians from CDSA countriesTunisia and Morocco and neighbouring Maghreb countries. Sakharov Prize laureates LamyaHaji Bashar (2016) and Hauwa Ibrahim (2005) addressed this workshop on InternationalWomen'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 StrengtheningRegional HRDs Networks in Western Balkans, Eastern Europe and Turkey on 20-22 March2017. The event brought together 60 human rights defenders. The largest such gathering inthe EP for the year allowed a dialogue with the EU institutions and helped forge linksbetween the EP and HRDs, better understanding of EU/EP work, building-up capacities andnetworking. The meeting with politicians and workshops focused on practical mechanismsfor HRDs protection and reflected on how to overcome the risks they face and enhance theirsecurity. President Tajani’s speech and his strong stance on Turkey was widely reported inthe media; it echoed expectations by participants for clear and strong EU messages on HRviolations. Other speakers included AFET Chair McAllister and DROI Chair Panzeri, high

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level representatives from OSCE/ODIHR, the EC (DEVCO, NEAR), EEAS and the Councilof Europe. The joint event laid ground for further cooperation with ODIHR in this area.Recommendations from the HRDs to European organisations and institutions and theirmember-states were later consolidated by the ODIHR in a report and the document wasbrought 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 aregular cooperation with the NGO “People in Need”. The programme in Brussels on 24 Aprilincluded the screening of a powerful Danish documentary - “The Wait” - about the plight ofchildren in families seeking asylum in the EU and, more broadly, migration and asylumpolicies of the EU and its Member-States. In view of the massive arrival of immigrants andasylum 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 InternationalOffice for Migration (IOM) led to a thought-provoking discussion with more than 100participants, including Afghan immigrants living in Brussels. VP Lunacek delivered apresentation of the Sakharov Prize in her introductory remarks and LIBE Committee ChairClaude 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 forparliamentary engagement(Kiev, 15 September)

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

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

Human Rights Defenders from the Western Balkans countries participated in the High-Levelround table on the European integration of the Western Balkans on 20-21 November. Thepresence of this part of civil society contributed to interesting and frank exchanges. This wasalso an opportunity for the HRDs to network, to establish closer contacts with the EP as wellas 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 ofthe 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 meetingand by close personal involvement of DEG members, as five DEG members sat on the EEDBoard, including the Chair of its Executive Committee (A. Graf Lambsdorff). Members whosit on the EED Board of Governors assisted two meetings of the Board, on 22 June and on 6

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December. On each occasion, preparatory meetings were organised in the EP, for Memberswith the EED Executive Director and for political groups’ advisers with EED’s Director ofOperations. MEPs also assisted for three EED strategic reflection meetings, on the SouthernNeighbourhood on 29 March, on the Western Balkans on 19 September and on the EasternNeighbours on 7 November. Assistance was given for the presentation by the EED ExecutiveDirector 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 Subcommitteeon Human Rights.

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VI. Mediation and dialogue

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

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

To this end, the EP Mediation Support Service has been upgraded into a Unit to furtherdevelop the newly established working methods and to continue providing expert policyadvice and practical operational support to Members active in the area of parliamentarymediation, 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 ofthe Jean Monnet Dialogue (JMD) concept, a mediation and dialogue process launched at thehistorical 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 ofinstitutional or national reform away from the media and political spotlight of Brussels andnational capitals.

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

Western BalkansGiven the positive development of the Jean Monnet Dialogue concept, the DEG agreed at itsmeeting 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 processhave been initiated in 2017 is in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, building uponthe mediation efforts of 3 Members of the European Parliament together with CommissionerHahn.

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Mediation, Facilitated Dialogue and Contribution to Conflict Prevention

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

Addressing pre-election violence preventionBuilding on the policy dialogue across the EU institutions, with UN agencies and expertconflict prevention NGOs, the EP continued to support the enhancement of EU activities toaddress the recurrent issue of election-related violence. On 13 July 2017, chaired by MEPsJudith Sargentini and Alojz Peterle, the DEG hosted a seminar entitled “Preventing Election-Related Violence: What Role for Political Mediation and Dialogue” whereby expertsemphasised the need for the EU institutions to go beyond policy discussion and to step upimplementation of activities in this field. In this line, in close cooperation with the EEAS andEU Delegation, the EP organised its first pre-election conflict prevention delegation in Mayahead of the Kenyan General Elections in 2017. As well as holding bilateral meetings withparliamentary leadership, political party leaders and electoral commissioners, the EP tookpart in a conference to highlight the specific concerns of violence and intimidation againstwomen during the electoral campaign. As a follow-up to the delegation, the EU’s ChiefObserver for the Kenyan General Elections was provided with a coaching programme to raiseawareness and orientation on conflict and mediation issues related to the elections. Finally, asa contribution to the ongoing policy debate on how to improve the EU’s overall response topreventing election related violence, EPMS took part in a lessons learned exercise on theelections in Kenya organised in December by the European Peacebuilding Liaison Office(EPLO).

Supporting the Working Group on Gagauzia’s Autonomous powers within Moldova’sconstitutional frameworkThe successful launch of the Working Group followed an EP hosted Conference inNovember 2015 that brought together the parliamentary leadership from the MoldovanParliament and the People’s Assembly of Gagauzia. Subsequently, the Working Group hasbecome a permanent platform for dialogue delivering tangible results in the socio-economicsphere, including the adoption of the first special Action Plan on regional development ofGagauzia 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 keyelement of the programme was a working session with Mr Auštrevičius, lead MEP forCDSA-Moldova, during which the members of the Parliament and the People’s Assemblycommitted to drafting new proposals of the two legal harmonization amendments returned bythe President of Moldova, and to developing a comprehensive Road Map before the nextMoldovan parliamentary elections in 2018 in order to safeguard the continuity of the process.

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

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European Parliament’s training catalogue for MEPs “Learn.MEP”. The first such training,involving essential mediation tools and skills and a comprehensive understanding of aconflict 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 KenyanGeneral Elections in August 2017.

Young Political Leaders (YPL) Programme

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

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

Tunisia Week and Young Political Leaders from MENA RegionFollowing-up on a new initiative introduced by HR/VP Federica Mogherini entitled ‘YoungMed Voices’, the European Parliament hosted on 3 May 2017 young leaders from the MiddleEast and North Africa Region. The programme included exchanges on the links betweenparliaments and civil society and as well as the challenges of youth participation in politicsand sectarianism in the region. The programme was developed in cooperation with theEuropean External Action Service and coincided with the EP’s Tunisia Week. This created anexcellent opportunity to leverage on both programmes and provide a common platform foryoung activists from the MENA region as well as young Members of the TunisianParliament. Complementary to these activities for the MENA region, the DEG hosted the10th Anniversary of the Mediterranean Young Journalists Awards Ceremony in the EuropeanParliament on 6 December 2017. In support of the future young leaders and promotion ofdialogue and cultural understanding on both sides of the Mediterranean, the event wasorganised in cooperation with Anna Lindh Foundation with the global theme of InterculturalDialogue.

Western BalkansIn 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 importantevents:- EU-Western Balkans Pre-Summit Youth Forum opened by DEG Lead-MEP for theYPL, Mr Fabio Castaldo, was organised by the European Commission, DG NEAR, in Triesteon 11-12 July 2017, and provided 130 youth representatives from the region with anopportunity to review progress in the Western Balkans Berlin Process and to prepare keyrecommendations that were fed into the EU Western Balkans Summit conclusions. Thediscussions 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 theregion. The latter topic became a key focus of the YPL Programme in the autumn.

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- As a follow up, the conference “Bridging the gap between youth policy, youthparticipation and parliamentarians in the Western Balkans” was organised incooperation with DG NEAR in the European Parliament on 20-21 November 2017. Theconference also provided a wider platform for parliamentarians and youth organisations from6 Western Balkan countries to bring forward possible responses to address youthdisengagement with politics in the region.

Israel and PalestineBuilding on the programme for the young leaders from Israel and Palestine hosted by the EPin December 2016, the 2017 programme (taking place on 27-29 November), allowed theprevious year’s alumni to be part of the process of designing the event. The three-dayprogramme thus focused on the EU approach to the Middle-East peace process and conflictprevention and mediation in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The core of the programme was avery 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 AlonBen Meir, expert on Middle East politics and affairs, specialised in international negotiationsand conflict resolution and directly involved in the last 25 years in Track II diplomaticnegotiations.

EU-African Union Pre-Summit Youth ForumWith Mr Fabio Castaldo leading a panel on ‘Youth and Governance’, the EP Young PoliticalLeaders Programme contributed for the first time to the EU-African Union Pre-SummitYouth Forum. The 2017 forum, convening youth from organisations across Africa and theEU, took place on 9-11 October in Abidjan and drafted recommendations on six horizontaltopics, including education and skills, business, job creations and entrepreneurship,governance and political and democratic inclusion, peace and security, environmentalpreservation 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 ofMEPs, including Hugues Bayet, Ana Maria Gomes, Heidi Hautala, Eduard Kukan, ArneLietz, Javier Lopez, Fulvio Martusciello, David McAllister, Linda McAvan, Brando Menifei,Antonio Panzeri Judith Sargentini, Marietje Schaake, Neoklis Sylikotis, Ramon LuisValcarcel Siso, and Julie Ward.

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VII. International events and conferences on democracy

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

On 19-20 June, DEG organised its first multilateral capacity-building seminar,bringing over60 Committee chairs from the parliaments of the Comprehensive Democracy SupportApproach (CDSA) countries and regions (Western Balkans: Bosnia and Herzegovina, theformer 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, theIvory Coast, Rwanda, Senegal, Togo).

The event was very successful with an extremely lively exchange of views between MEPsand the external participants on all phases of the EU legislative cycle, with particularattention 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 LuisValcárcel Siso (EPP, ES) and Ioan Mircea Paşcu (S&D, RO) and EP Committee ChairsCecilia Wikström (ALDE, SE) (Petitions) and Pier Antonio Panzeri (S&D, IT) (Humanrights). The MEPs stressed that no country can experience a sustainable democratic andpolitical development without an efficient, transparent, independent and well-functioningparliament and that all political forces should play an active part in the parliamentarydecision-making process, where a range of supervisory and control powers are necessary toguarantee this, allowing for the correct implementation of the laws. They also argued that asound legislative process is one which seeks to involve citizens as much as possible throughconsultations, transparency (roll-call votes, web-streaming of meetings, availability of alldocuments on the internet) and an enhanced media presence underpinned by the use of themost efficient communication tools.

Roundtable on “Preventing Election-Related Violence: What Role for PoliticalMediation and Dialogue”

On 13 July 2017, chaired by MEPs Judith Sargentini and Alojz Peterle, the DEG hosted aseminar on preventing election related violence with experts from both the conflictprevention and election observation communities. The seminar, co-organized with ECES,was a follow up on the symposium “Electing Peace – What Works in Preventing ElectionViolence?” held in November 2016, focusing on the progress in developing an EU approachto 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 aconference in celebration of the International Day of Democracy, teaming up with theEuropean External Action Service, the European Commission and four democracy supportorganisations: the European Endowment for Democracy (EED), the European Network ofPolitical Foundations (ENoP), the European Partnership for Democracy (EPD), and theOffice of the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (InternationalIDEA).

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

High-level politicians, EU officials, academics, journalists, grassroots activists andpractitioners debated current trends and challenges to democracy, and analysed the needs andpossibilities for reconnecting citizens and democratic institutions. First Vice-President of theEuropean 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 120participants.

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 on20-24 November (on the eve of the African Union-European Union Summit in Abidjan), andas part of its on-going capacity-building programmes with African parliaments, DEG invitedsome 50 parliamentarians from its priority parliaments to take part in the African Weekactivities. These included representatives from Tunisia, Morocco, Nigeria and - as part of thePan-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-relatedagenda 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 partnershipwith Africa”. Moreover, the presence of a PAP delegation in Brussels allowed for usefulconsultations, already on a draft joint text for the Summit, and created the necessary trustbetween the European and African delegations.

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

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

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Annex 1

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

Co-Chairs

NAME GROUPMr David McALLISTER (Chair AFET) EPP

Mrs Linda McAVAN (Chair DEVE) S&D

Members

NAME GROUPMr Michael GAHLER EPPMr Cristian Dan PREDA EPPMr Andrzej GRZYB EPPMs Inés AYALA SENDER (Chair of the Conferenceof Delegation Chairs)

S&D

Mrs Elena VALENCIANO MARTÍNEZ-OROZCO S&DMr David MARTIN S&DMr Ryszard CZARNECKI ECRMs Izaskun BILBAO BARANDICA ALDEMs Judith SARGENTINI Greens/EFAMs Marie-Christine VERGIAT GUE/NGLMr Fabio Massimo CASTALDO EFDD

Ex-officio Members (without voting rights)

NAMEMr Alexander Graf LAMBSDORFF, EP Vice-President responsible forHuman Rights and DemocracyMrs Ulrike LUNACEK, EP Vice-President responsible for theSakharov Prize NetworkMr Pier Antonio PANZERI, Chair of the Sub-Committee on HumanRights

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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)

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Annex 3

Contacts

Directorate-General for External PoliciesDirectorate D: Democracy Support

SERVICE/

UNITContact E-MAIL

PhoneBrussels+32 2 28 +Strasbourg+33 3 881 +

Directorate D:

Democracy SupportDirector: Pietro DUCCI pietro.ducci@ep.europa.eu 46656

72491

Democracy and

Elections Actions

Unit

Head of Unit:

Cristina CASTAGNIOLIdeac-secretariat@ep.europa.eu

3278274059

Pre-accession Actions

Unit

Head of Unit:

Krzysztof BERNACKI

Pre-Accession-Actions-Unit@ep.europa.eu

3268564061

Human Rights

Actions Unit

Head of Unit f.f.:

Inga ROSINSKA

HumanRights-Actions@ep.europa.eu

4601472619

Mediation Support

Unit

Head of Unit f.f.:

Gerrard QUILLE

epms@ep.europa.eu 3226074780

Annex 4

Directorate -General for External Policies of the Union - Directorate D: Democracy Support8th 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 DEACDemocracy and ElectionsActions Unit + main pointsfrom DEG meetings

PAACPre-Accession Actions Unit

HRACHuman Rights Actions Unit

EPMSEuropean ParliamentMediation Unit

January 31: Seminar with EEAS on followup to EOM recommendations

30-31: Local and RegionalAuthorities, Brussels in cooperationwith AFET, REGI(10 MEPS: Mr Peterle, MsMihaylova, Mr McAllister, MrBogovič, Mr van Nistelrooij, MrBoştinaru, Mr Jakovčić, Mr Nilsson,Mr Tonino Picula, Ms Reintke)

February 6-7: Fact-finding mission of leadMEP Santiago Fisas to the NigerianParliament

16: DEG meeting:- Mr Gianni Buquicchio, President ofthe Venice Commission, invited

- DEG position on possible EU EOMto Algeria and Palestine

17-18: Fact-finding mission of leadMEP Gomes to Georgia

6-8: Visit of the Chairman andMembers of the Committee forHuman Rights and Inter-EthnicRelations of the MoldovanParliament (5 MPs, 12 MEPs:Austrevicius, Boni, Chinnici, Csaky,Grapini, Grzyb, Harms, Honeyball,Nicolai, Kozlowska-Rajewicz,Preda, Soltes), Brussels

8-11: CDSA Tanzania - visit ofDavid Martin to the NationalAssembly

15-17: Mission of Pat Cox to Kiev,preparations of 2nd JMD

28 Feb - 1 March:"Peer Coaching Mediation" at BerlinCentre for International PeaceOperations (part of developing theEP parliamentary MediationTraining/Coaching for Chief

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Month DEACDemocracy and ElectionsActions Unit + main pointsfrom DEG meetings

PAACPre-Accession Actions Unit

HRACHuman Rights Actions Unit

EPMSEuropean ParliamentMediation Unit

19-22: Preparatory Mission of formerPdt Baron Crespo to Tunis in viewof the Tunisian Week

Observers)

March 7: DEG seminar on “Improving theaccountability of Parliamentariansin election observation” (hosted byLambsdorff; co-chaired withGomes)

16: DEG- feedback on DEG seminar withChief Observers on “follow-up toEOM RecommendationsConclusions”- DEG decision to restartcooperation with Morocco fordemocracy support activities

18-22: EP EOD to Timor Leste(Head of Delegation, Ana Gomes)

20-22: Mission staff DG PRES tothe Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine

28-30: PAP staff visit to Brussels oninterpretation, translation, IT,finance (hosted by Gahler)

02-03/03: Trans-European Networkspolicy and connectivity agenda,Pristina, Kosovo in cooperation withTRAN, ITRE and RegionalCooperation Council (RCC)(5 MEPS: Ms Delli, MrFleckenstein, Ms De Monte, MsTheocharous, Mr Radoš)

08-09/03: Women's economicempowerment: let's act together, incooperation with FEMMDEG human rights action on theoccasion of the InternationalWomen's Day (IWD), Brussels(11 MEPS: Ms. Blinkevičiūtė, Mr.Panzeri, Ms Bildt, Ms Arena, MsVautmans, Ms Costa, Ms Forenza,Mr Weidenholzer, Ms Schaake, MsGomes, Ms Becerra)

22-22/03: Study Visit – Members ofthe Parliament of Montenegro,Brussels in cooperation with AFET(8 MEPS: Mr Paşcu , Ms Lunacek,Mr McAllister, Ms Fotyga, MsKaili, Mr Vaughan, Mr Tannock, MrBrok)

6: Sakharov Prize Network (SPN)event in cooperation with EPIORome, Sakharov Prize Laureate(SPL) Hauwa Ibrahim (2005,Nigeria), MEPs Costa and Forenza,Rome

6-9: Visit of Moroccan womenparliamentarians (7 MPs, 8 MEPs:DROI Chair Panzeri, Ayala Sender,Corazza Bildt, Fisas Ayxela,Gabriel, Honeyball, Pargneaux,Saifi), Brussels

8: SPN event in cooperation withEPIO Brussels, SPLs Lamya HajiBashar (2016, Iraq), Hauwa Ibrahim(2005, Nigeria), Dr Denis Mukwege(2014, DRC) by video message,MEPs Arena and Vautmans,Brussels

8-9: Inter-parliamentary meeting“Women’s economic empowerment:Let’s act together!” in cooperationwith FEMM Committee (21 MPs,from Georgia, Moldova, Morocco,Tunisia, Ukraine, President Tajani,MEPs: FEMM Chair Blinkevičiūtė,

6-8: Visit of Young Political Leadersfrom Armenia and Azerbaijan to theEP in Bxl

21-22: Mediation Mission of 3MEPs to FYRoM

- 41 -

Month DEACDemocracy and ElectionsActions Unit + main pointsfrom DEG meetings

PAACPre-Accession Actions Unit

HRACHuman Rights Actions Unit

EPMSEuropean ParliamentMediation Unit

DROI Chair Panzeri, Corazza Bildt,SPLs Lamya Haji Bashar (2016,Iraq) and Hauwa Ibrahim (2005,Nigeria), Brussels

17: SPN event in cooperation withEPIO Ljubljana, SPL Lamya HajiBashar (2016, Iraq), Ljubljana

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

27-28: SPN events in cooperationwith EPIO Paris, SPL Lamya HajiBashar (2016, Iraq), Mayor of Paris,Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Paris

April 30.3-3.4: EP EOD to Armenia (Headof delegation: Heidi Hautala)

4-8: EP EOD to the Gambia (Headof delegation: Jean Lambert)

6: DEG:- discussion on a possible revision of

24/04-02/06: Pre-Accession Fellow,from the Parliament of Albania, MsEvda Mema (DG EXPO -Directorate for Regions, PolicyDepartment for External Relations),Brussels

24/04-02/06: Pre-Accession Fellow,from the Parliamentary Assembly of

27: One World Human RightsDocumentary Film Festival, “TheWait”, VP Lunacek by videomessage, NGOs, Brussels

18-20: 2nd Jean Monnet Dialoguewith Ukraine in Kiev

- 42 -

Month DEACDemocracy and ElectionsActions Unit + main pointsfrom DEG meetings

PAACPre-Accession Actions Unit

HRACHuman Rights Actions Unit

EPMSEuropean ParliamentMediation Unit

DEG’s working methods (decisionto adopt a silent written procedure incases of urgency)- feedback on DEG Roundtable on“Improving the accountability ofParliamentarians in electionobservation”

24 - 26 April Sri Lanka/MyanmarMPs’ joint visit to Brussels onbudgetary role of parliaments(hosted by Lambert/Sargentini)

Bosnia and Herzegovina, Mr JovicaKatić (DG COMM - Directorate forRelations with the Citizens),Brussels

24/04-02/06: Pre-Accession Fellow,from the Assembly of Kosovo, MrFatin Hamiti (DG IPOL -Directorate for Citizens' Rights andConstitutional Affairs - Secretariatof the Committee on Civil Liberties,Justice and Home Affairs), Brussels

May 2-4: Tunisian Week, Brussels

19-23: Visit of Pat Cox to Ukraine:Open Parliament Initiative, Steeringcommittee of the Rada za Evropuproject, seminar on legislativeimplementation of the AA

22-24: PAP staff visit to Brussels onthe EU legislative process

28-30 May: Fact-finding mission oflead MEP Weber to Peru

29: DEG:- adoption of priorities for EU EOMin until the end of 2017

- adoption of priorities for EODs inthe 2nd half of 2017

02-03/05: Public Procurement andParliament’s role, Brussels(7 MEPS: Mr Tarabella, MsMacovei, Mr Šoltes, Mr Scholz, MsDlabajová, Ms Pitera, Mr Kohn)

15/05-23/06: Pre-Accession Fellow,from the Parliament of Albania, MsDhamo (DG EPRS - DirectorateMembers' Research Service -Economic Policies Unit), Brussels

29/05-07/07: Pre-Accession Fellow,from the Parliament of Montenegro,Ms Nela Kaluderović ( DG IPOL - –Directorate for Citizens' Rights andConstitutional Affairs - Secretariatof the Committee on ConstitutionalAffairs, Brussels

4: SPN participation in DROICommittee meeting, “Exchange ofviews on the occasion of the PressFreedom Day”, Christophe Deloirerepresenting 2005 SPL ReportersWithout Borders, Brussels

3: ‘Young Med Voices initiative ofHR Mogherini’ visit to the EPduring the Tunisian Week

3: YPL during Tunisian Week

4: Visit of the new Speaker of theNational Assembly of the FYRoM,Mr Xhaferi to the EP, meeting with3 MEPs, debriefing Delegation

8-11: Seminars on preventingelection-related violence in Kenyaand Tanzania (following thepreparatory/fact-finding mission ofMEP David Martin to Tanzania on8-11 February)

- 43 -

Month DEACDemocracy and ElectionsActions Unit + main pointsfrom DEG meetings

PAACPre-Accession Actions Unit

HRACHuman Rights Actions Unit

EPMSEuropean ParliamentMediation Unit

29 May-23 June: Democracy Fellowform Moldova

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

June 9-13: EP EOD to Kosovo (Head ofdelegation: Igor Soltes)

19-20: (together with PAAC) High-level capacity-building seminar onthe Legislative cycle for all CDSAcountries and regions, Brussels incooperation with AFET, LIBE,ENVI and REGI, PETI, DROI(12 MEPS: Mr Czarnecki, MrPeterle, Ms Weber, Ms Sargentini,Mr Austrevicius, Ms McGuinness,Mr Paşcu, Mr Valcárcel Siso, MsMihaylova, Ms Wikström, MrPanzeri, Mr Jávor)

23 - 26: EP EOD to Albania (Headof Delegation tbc)

24 - 27: EP EOD to Mongolia (Headof delegation: Laima Andrikiene)

27-28: Study visit of staff from theVerkhovna Rada of Ukraine to DGPRES

19-20: (together with DEAC) High-level capacity-building seminar onthe Legislative cycle for all CDSAcountries and regions, Brussels incooperation with AFET, LIBE,ENVI and REGI, PETI, DROI(12 MEPS: Mr Czarnecki, MrPeterle, Ms Weber, Ms Sargentini,Mr Austrevicius, Ms McGuinness,Mr Paşcu, Mr Valcárcel Siso, MsMihaylova, Ms Wikström, MrPanzeri, Mr Jávor)

6-17: Sakharov Fellowship 2 weekprogramme for 14 Fellows,President Tajani, VP Lunacek,DROI Chair Panzeri, MEP Gomes,individual meetings with 23 MEPs,Brussels and Venice

10: SPL Hauwa Ibrahim (2005,Nigeria) at the Venice School ofHuman Rights, Opening lecture,Venice

14: SPL Lamya Haji Bashar (2016,Iraq) at the Venice School of HumanRights, “Evidence from the field:The Case of Yazidi Women”,Venice

22: European Endowment forDemocracy (EED) Board ofGovernors meeting, Brussels

26.6.-1.7: “Retreat of Survivors ofSexual Violence”, SPL Dr DenisMukwege (2014, DRC), VPLunacek by video message, Geneva

2-3: Mission of Pat Cox, expert onMediation/Dialogue with Ukraine, toTLD Malta

26-28: Visit of Chiefs of Staff ofVerkhovna Rada of Ukraine to theEP in Bxl

28: Mediation Training of MEPSchaake, Chief Observer, Kenya, inBrussels

- 44 -

Month DEACDemocracy and ElectionsActions Unit + main pointsfrom DEG meetings

PAACPre-Accession Actions Unit

HRACHuman Rights Actions Unit

EPMSEuropean ParliamentMediation Unit

July 6: DEG:- adoption of "DEG Criteria forMEPs participating in electionobservation delegations" as a meansto strengthen EP electionobservation- decision to establish a Joint Codeof Conduct with the four assembliesobserving in the OSCE area- comprehensive and forward-looking overview of all EPdemocracy support activities in theWestern Balkans

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

11-12: YPL - participation of MEPFabio Castaldo in the Youth Summiton Western Balkans, Trieste, Italy

13: Conference on conflictprevention, mediation and dialoguewith ECES in Bxl

August 6-10: (with EPMS) EP EOD toKenya (Head of Delegation DavidMcAllister)

6-10: (with DEAC) EP EOM toKenya (Head of Delegation DavidMcAllister)

29: Training - Mediation/conflictprevention for EU Ambassadors, Bxl

31.08 - 01.09: Mediation Mission of3 MEPs to FYRoM

September 4-6: Study visit of MPs from thePan-African Parliament on the roleof the parliament and the legislativeprocess (hosted by Gahler)

14: DEG:

28-29: Independent and modernpublic administration, Danilovgrad,Montenegro in cooperation withAFET and the Regional School ofPublic Administration(6 MEPs: Mr Czarnecki, Mr Martin,

15: “Gender Equality and theSustainable Development Goals: aframework for parliamentaryengagement" workshop, MEPKozłowska-Rajewicz, Kiev

13-16: Mission of Pat Cox to Kiev,preparations for 3rd JMD withUkraine

- 45 -

Month DEACDemocracy and ElectionsActions Unit + main pointsfrom DEG meetings

PAACPre-Accession Actions Unit

HRACHuman Rights Actions Unit

EPMSEuropean ParliamentMediation Unit

- decision to observe the election inNepal in Nov/Dec 2017 (advancedfrom 2018)- discussion on the elections inKenya with Chief Observer MarietjeSchaake

27: International Day of Democracy

26-28: Study visit of staff from theParliament of Georgia (hosted byGomes)

25-29: Study visit of staff from theVerkhovna Rada of Ukraine (hostedby Brok)

Mr Peterle, Ms Vaidere, MrMeszerics, Mr Castaldo)

04/09-13/10: Pre-Accession Fellow,from the Parliamentary Assembly ofBosnia and Herzegovina, Ms AmilaŽujo (DG INTE, Directorate forOrganisation and Planning),Brussels

25/09-03/11: Pre-Accession Fellow,from the National Assembly of theformer Yugoslav Republic ofMacedonia, Ms Gorana PopGeorgieva (DG PRES - Protocol),Brussels

October 13-16: EP EOD to Kyrgyzstan(Head of Delegation LaimaAndrikiene)

17-18: (with EPMS) EP-NASSSeminars in Nigeria on budget,oversight and inter/intra-partydialogue (Head of DelegationSantiago Fisas)

03/10: Annual coordinatorsmeeting, European Parliament andnational correspondents of theenlargement parliaments, Brussels

16/10-24/11: Pre-Accession Fellow,from the Parliament of Montenegro,Ms Ivana Tatar (DG EXPO - SEDECommittee), Brussels

9-11: Visit to the EP of Nigerianwomen MPs (7 MPs, 7 MEPs:Girling, Fisas Ayxelà, Nart, LopezAguilar, Kyenge, Valenciano),Brussels

17-18: SPN event in cooperationwith EPIO Tallinn, Kirill Koroteevrepresenting Memorial (2009,Russia), Tallinn

17-18: (with DEAC) EP-NASSSeminars in Nigeria on budget,oversight and inter/intra-partydialogue (Head of DelegationSantiago Fisas)

9-11: YPL – Mission of MEPCastaldo to Abidjan, Africa –Europe Youth Summit

November 16: DEG:- discussion of DEG WorkProgramme for 2018

20-21: High-level Round Table: theEuropean integration process of

20-21: Human rights component ofthe High-level Round Table on theEuropean Integration Process of

9-10: Mission of Ivo Vajgl toSkopje, preparations for the firstJMD with Macedonia

- 46 -

Month DEACDemocracy and ElectionsActions Unit + main pointsfrom DEG meetings

PAACPre-Accession Actions Unit

HRACHuman Rights Actions Unit

EPMSEuropean ParliamentMediation Unit

- adoption of priorities for EU EOMin 2018

20-23: 4 DEG priority country visitsto the EP African Week (Nigeria,Morocco, Tunisia, PAP)

21: extraordinary DEG (AfricanWeek):- discussion on elections in Africa,following the Kenya elections

23-27: EP EOM in Nepal (Head ofDelegation Neena Gill)

24-28: EP EOM in Honduras (Headof Delegation Jose Ignacio Faria)

Western Balkans in a regionalperspective, Brussels in cooperationwith AFET, HRACand EP Delegations for relationswith the countries of WesternBalkans

(19 MEPs: Ms Hautala, MrMcAllister, Mr Kukan, Mr PanzeriMs Macovei, Mr Picula, Mr Peterle,Mr Martin, Mr Dan Preda, MrŠoltes, Mr Fleckenstein, Mr VajglMr Tannock, Ms Schaake, MrDzhambazki, Mr Meszerics, MrCastaldo, Mr Radoš, Mr Kovatchev)

Western Balkans in a RegionalPerspective, 6 civil societyrepresentatives, Brussels

28-29: SPL Salih Osman (2007,Sudan) at the Young political leadersfrom Israel and Palestine event andmeetings with MEPs, Brussels

7-10: Working Group on Dialoguebetween Chisinau and Comrat withCMI, in Bxl

20-22: YPL Western Balkans in Bxl

23-24: 3rd JMD with Ukraine,Bazoches, France

27-29: YPL Israel and Palestine inBxl

December 4-9: EP EOM in Nepal (Head ofDelegation Neena Gill)

4-6: Study visit of MPs from theNigerian Assembly on budget,oversight of trade and investment,and oversight of security sector(hosted by Fisas)

11-14: Study visit of staff from theHouse of Representatives of Jordanto the European Parliament

12-15: EP mission to Washingtonfor the 12th implementation Meeting

6: YPL - Mediterranean JournalistAward Ceremony with Anna LindhFoundation, Bxl (human rightscomponent, MEP Ayala Sender)

6: European Endowment forDemocracy (EED) Board ofGovernors meeting, Brussels

11-13: Sakharov Prize Week withthe 2017 SPL DemocraticOpposition in Venezuela (JulioBorges, 2 Venezuelan MPs, thepolitical prisoners represented byAntonio Ledezma and

6: YPL - Mediterranean JournalistAward Ceremony with Anna LindhFoundation, Bxl

6: Participation in policy discussionon 'Preventing deadlocked andviolent elections: lessons fromKenya', EPLO, Bxl

18-19 December:Mission to Kiev, CDSA Ukraine,JMD Process

- 47 -

Month DEACDemocracy and ElectionsActions Unit + main pointsfrom DEG meetings

PAACPre-Accession Actions Unit

HRACHuman Rights Actions Unit

EPMSEuropean ParliamentMediation Unit

of the Declaration of Principles forInternational Election Observation(MEP: Tamás Meszerics)

14: DEG:- adoption of 2017 Work programme(decision on Turkey as a CDSApriority country pending)- adoption of priorities for EODs for1st half of 2018

representatives of Leopoldo López,Daniel Ceballos, Lorent Saleh,Alfredo Ramos and AndreaGonzález) and finalist Aura LolitaChavez Ixcaquic and representativeof jailed finalist Dawit Isaak; awardceremony, joint AFET/DEVE/DROImeeting, meetings with politicalgroups, seminars with students andjournalists, Strasbourg.

11-13: Public debate in cooperationwith Strasbourg city, exhibition Theydefend our freedoms - 30 years ofSakharov Prize in Lieu d’Europeand Strasbourg railway station,Strasbourg

14: EPIO event in Luxembourg withthe 2017 SP laureate A. Ledezmaand P. de Ceballos representing D.Ceballos, MEP Reding

15: EPIO event in Berlin with the2017 SP laureate A. Ledezma and P.de Ceballos representing D.Ceballos, AFET Chair McAllister

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