Declaration by Tobias Pflueger, acting Chairman
25 February 2009
Declaration by Tobias Pflueger, acting Chairman of the European Parliament Delegation for relations with the Gulf States, including Yemen, delivered after the visit by the Bureau of the Delegation* , 22 – 25 February 2009
Whilst the European Parliament Delegation was in Yemen the ruling party, the General People`s Congress (GPC) and the opposition parties represented in Parliament, finalized their discussions on the parliamentary elections scheduled for April 2009.
Given the timing of our visit, the European Parliament delegation was asked for its advice. Subsequently, an important agreement was signed by both the governing and opposition parliamentary parties of Yemen. The parties handed over the agreement to the acting chairman of the EP delegation, thus corroborating the binding character of the agreement and their commitment to its implementation.
The European Parliament Delegation for relations with the Gulf States, including Yemen would like to comment as follows on this agreement:
1) The EP delegation takes note of the fact that an agreement has been reached by the parliamentary parties in Yemen. Thanks to this agreement, the participation of the opposition parties represented in Parliament in the forthcoming elections now looks assured. Postponement of the Parliamentary elections became necessary to enable full participation in the elections of the opposition parties represented in Parliament.
2) A postponement of two years in holding the parliamentary elections is, however, a long time and will therefore be critically watched by the European Parliament delegation. Nonetheless, this agreement does at least mean that both EU and EP will now be in a position to monitor the evolution of the process.
3) The EP delegation welcomes the fact that the main points of the EU Observation Mission report on the 2006 Presidential election have been specifically taken into account in the agreement between the Yemeni parties; the point about proportional lists for the elections is expressly included.
4) The agreement also includes mention of the real need for constitutional and electoral reforms, as expressed by the EP delegation, to be undertaken within this period. The EP delegation would also like to see, as soon as possible, a blueprint for constitutional and electoral reform. Once such a blueprint has been elaborated, the EP delegation would ask the Commission to report back on a regular basis on the process of constitutional and electoral reform.
5) Finally, the EP delegation would like to thank all parties represented in the Yemeni Parliament for their confidence in the European Parliament in this very important process.
*The following MEPs took part in this delegation visit: Tobias Pflueger, Calin Catalin Chirita, Jose Manuel Garcia Margallo y Marfil
Declaration by Tobias Pflueger, acting Chairman of the European Parliament Delegation for relations with the Gulf States, including Yemen, delivered after the visit by the Bureau of the Delegation* , 22 – 25 February 2009
Whilst the European Parliament Delegation was in Yemen the ruling party, the General People`s Congress (GPC) and the opposition parties represented in Parliament, finalized their discussions on the parliamentary elections scheduled for April 2009.
Given the timing of our visit, the European Parliament delegation was asked for its advice. Subsequently, an important agreement was signed by both the governing and opposition parliamentary parties of Yemen. The parties handed over the agreement to the acting chairman of the EP delegation, thus corroborating the binding character of the agreement and their commitment to its implementation.
The European Parliament Delegation for relations with the Gulf States, including Yemen would like to comment as follows on this agreement:
1) The EP delegation takes note of the fact that an agreement has been reached by the parliamentary parties in Yemen. Thanks to this agreement, the participation of the opposition parties represented in Parliament in the forthcoming elections now looks assured. Postponement of the Parliamentary elections became necessary to enable full participation in the elections of the opposition parties represented in Parliament.
2) A postponement of two years in holding the parliamentary elections is, however, a long time and will therefore be critically watched by the European Parliament delegation. Nonetheless, this agreement does at least mean that both EU and EP will now be in a position to monitor the evolution of the process.
3) The EP delegation welcomes the fact that the main points of the EU Observation Mission report on the 2006 Presidential election have been specifically taken into account in the agreement between the Yemeni parties; the point about proportional lists for the elections is expressly included.
4) The agreement also includes mention of the real need for constitutional and electoral reforms, as expressed by the EP delegation, to be undertaken within this period. The EP delegation would also like to see, as soon as possible, a blueprint for constitutional and electoral reform. Once such a blueprint has been elaborated, the EP delegation would ask the Commission to report back on a regular basis on the process of constitutional and electoral reform.
5) Finally, the EP delegation would like to thank all parties represented in the Yemeni Parliament for their confidence in the European Parliament in this very important process.
*The following MEPs took part in this delegation visit: Tobias Pflueger, Calin Catalin Chirita, Jose Manuel Garcia Margallo y Marfil
Tobias Pflüger - 2009/03/04 16:56
Trackback URL:
https://tobiaspflueger.twoday.net/stories/5559588/modTrackback