By IANS
Brussels : The European Commission will deploy a 110-member election observer team for the constituent assembly elections in Nepal scheduled for April 10, EuAsiaNews reported Saturday.
The Election Observation Mission (EOM) will be led by Jan Mulder, member of the European Parliament. He will officially launch the EU EOM in Kathmandu March 18, the EU’s executive body announced here Friday.
The mission will consist of 40 long-term observers who will be deployed March 22 and over 60 short-term observers, who will be deployed in the main parts of Nepal around election day.
In addition, there will also be a core team of 10 EU experts.
The mission will stay in Nepal for an overall period of 10 weeks. Once elected, the Constituent Assembly will draft a new constitution and so determine Nepal’s future form of government.
“The elections for the Constituent Assembly are a cornerstone in the peace process in Nepal. The Constituent Assembly will provide the Nepalese population with a forum to carry forward democratic reform in the society,” said EU Commissioner for external relations, Benita Ferrero-Waldner.
The EU’s election mission to Nepal will cost 2.9 million euro (about $4.51 million).