EU Council Conclusions on the Democratic Republic of Congo

The Council adopted the following conclusions:

After years of war and concluding the transition period, the first democratic elections in 40 years provide a chance for a better future in the DRC. It is for the Congolese to seize this chance. The Council therefore stresses how imperative a transparent and fair electoral process is, reflecting the full sovereignty of the Congolese people. In line with its recent Council Conclusions on the DRC of February 27, May 15 and June 12, the EU will continue to wholeheartedly support the elections which should lay the foundation of a sustained process of peace, democratisation, good governance and the rule of law in the DRC.

The Council therefore commends all efforts undertaken by the Congolese transition authorities, the United Nations and the international community to prepare these elections in line with international standards and recalls the need to respect the overall electoral calendar. The Council appreciates the role of MONUC and the Comité International d'Accompagnement de la Transition (CIAT) in assisting the Congolese transition authorities in achieving their objectives.

The Council calls upon the transition authorities and on all political forces in the DRC to fully comply with democratic principles and basic freedoms in the electoral campaign. In this regard the EU urges all stakeholders to refrain from any harassment, intimidation or any other form of undue pressure as well as from all attempts of disturbing the electoral process by causing civil unrest. The Council expects that the Congolese security forces exercise restraint and remain impartial while providing security to the electoral process. The Council firmly condemns all acts which are violating basic civil rights, including the harassment of media, and that are undermining a fair and transparent electoral process. It recalls the need to provide sufficient security to all candidates, and stresses the need to fully guarantee the freedom of speech and equal access to the media.

The Council supports every effort of consensus building and of reducing the political tensions during and after the electoral process; the Council keeps encouraging all parties and candidates to conduct a fair and respectful electoral campaign during the coming weeks; in this context, the Council also recalls the need of upholding the democratic consensus by respecting the rules of establishing the final results of the elections. Furthermore, the Council encourages all regional actors to play a constructive role, noting that the entire region will benefit from credible and peaceful elections in the DRC. The successful holding of the second Summit of the Great Lakes Conference, provisionally scheduled for next December in Nairobi, would also help to underpin security in the DRC and throughout the region.

The Council welcomes the progress in deploying the EUFOR RD Congo operation in support of the MONUC peace keeping mission and notes that the EUFOR RD Congo shall be in a short delay fully operational for a period of up to four months after the 30th of July, date of the first round of the presidential and parliamentary elections. The Council underlines in particular the importance of good and close cooperation with the United Nations and the transition authorities in the DRC. It furthermore welcomes the support of the Republic of Gabon and the Republic of Congo in this regard.

The Council, active in the security sector reform with two ESDP missions, notes that the temporary reinforcement of the police advisory mission EUPOL Kinshasa is well under way with a view to support the Congolese crowd control units in Kinshasa. The Council welcomes in particular the participation of African partner nations in this mission. The EU will also continue to support the efforts related to the reform of the national army FARDC through the EUSEC RD Congo mission.

The Council also welcomes the ongoing deployment of the EU Election Observation Mission in the DRC and recalls the importance of best possible coordination among the different observation missions.

In continuous cooperation with the United Nations, the African Union and the international community, the EU will work closely with the transition authorities in the coming months, fully committed and looking forward to pursuing its efforts in partnership and cooperation once a new democratic government is in place.

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• EU Presidency Statement - Security Council: Open Debate on the Great Lakes Conference (20/12/2006)
• EU Council Conclusions on the Democratic Republic of Congo (13/11/2006)
• Résumé des propos de SOLANA, HR de l'UE pour la PESC, lors de la conférence de presse tenue au quartier général de l'EUFOR, à l'occasion de sa visite à Kinshasa, RDC (13/9/2006)
• Session Extraordinaire du Conseil : Conclusions sur la République Démocratique du Congo.  (25/8/2006)
• RDC: UE Commissaire Ferrero-Waldner sur les élections (3/8/2006)
• RDC: HR Solana salue la tenue dans de bonnes conditions des élections  (31/7/2006)
• RDC: Déclaration de Commissaire européen Michel sur les élections  (31/7/2006)
• EU Parliament - MEPs hopeful that Congolese elections will be success (28/7/2006)
• EU External Relations Council Conclusions (17/7/2006)
• EU Presidency Statement - United Nations Security Council Public Meeting on the Democratic Republic of Congo (6/7/2006)
• EU military operation in support of the MONUC during the election process in the Democratic Republic of Congo (12/6/2006)
• European Union to deploy Election Observation Mission to Congo Elections (16/5/2006)