Labour MEP Edward Scicluna was one of the invited High Level Panelists at the Annual Follow-Up Meeting on the Declaration of Principles for International Election Observation held in Brussels between the 4th and 6th October 2011. This was the first time that the event has been hosted by the European Union (EU) and included the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs Baroness Catherine Ashton, President Jimmy Carter and former Canadian Prime Minister Joe Clark. The meeting was chaired by EP President Jerzy Buzek.
The EU is a leading actor in the field of election observation, with more than 100 missions deployed across the globe in the past 15 years and a growing engagement for 2012-13 in the European Neighbourhood. Prof Scicluna led one of its missions to Uganda earlier this year.
Speaking on behalf of the EU appointed Chief Election Observers, Prof. Scicluna said:
“EU co-ordination with other external election observers such as the Carter Centre, the African Union and the Commonwealth is crucial for their credibility. External election observers need to speak with one voice.” 
Among the topics raised by President Jimmy Carter and Rt Hon Joe Clark were the political problems faced by such missions in countries which lacked the democratic credentials and the dilemmas faced when deciding the outcome of such an exercise. Also discussed were the dangers faced by personnel on the ground. However all agreed about the enormous benefit to the peoples who aspire to a free and democratic future for their country.
Prof Scicluna also informed the meeting that his proposal to organise a mid-term meeting with local ambassadors and other stakeholders in Uganda to take stock of the EU Observers’ Recommendations was being taken up.
The event focused on the specific importance of observation as an instrument for democracy development. The panelists discussed the politics behind the support for elections and the ways in which election support can be used as a tool for peace, stability and democratic reform. Around 70 delegates from over 30 different endorsing organizations were present.
Speaking with Prof Scicluna, both President Carter and Rt Hon Clarke told him that they hold Malta and its people in high esteem.
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Edward Scicluna jindirizza laqgha internazzjonali
dwar l-osservanza fl-elezzjonijiet
L-Ewroparlamentari Laburista l-Professur Edward Scicluna kien fost l-mistednin ewlenin biex jindirizza laqgha gholja dwar id-Dikjarazzjoni tal-Principji ghal Osservazzjoni Internazzjonali fl-Elezzjonijiet li saret fi Brussels bejn l-4 u s-6 ta’ Ottubru, 2011. Din kienet l-ewwel darba li din l-attivita annwali kienet il-mistiedna tal-Unjoni Ewropea (UE). Fost dawk li attendew ghaliha kien hemm ir-Rapprezentant Gholi ghall-Affarijiet Barranin tal-UE, il-Barunessa Catherine Ashton, l-eks-President Amerikan Jimmy Carter u l-eks-Prim Ministru Kanadiz Joe Clark. Il-laqgha tmexxiet mill-President tal-Parlament Ewropew Jerzy Buzek.
L-UE ghandha sehem ewlieni fil-qasam ta’ osservazzjoni ta’ elezzjonijiet u tul dawn l-ahhar 15-il sena baghtet aktar minn 100 missjoni f’pajjizi madwar id-dinja kollha. Sadattant ghandha impenn qawwi ghas-snin 2012-13 fil-pajjizi girien tal-kontinent Ewropew.
Meta indirizza l-laqgha f’isem l-Osservaturi Ewlenin ghall-Elezzjonijiet appuntati mill-UE Prof Scicluna qal li “il-kordinazzjoni tal-UE ma’ osservaturi barranin ohrajn, bhalma huwa c-Centru Carter, l-Unjoni Afrikana u l-Commonwealth, hija krucjali ghall-kredibilita taghhom. Huwa mehtieg li l-osservaturi barranin ghall-elezzjonijiet jitkellmu b’vuci wahda.”
Prof. Scicluna informa lil-laqgha li kienet intlaqghet il-proposta tieghu biex f’nofs it-terminu legislattiv fl-Uganda ssir laqgha mal-Ambaxxaturi tal-lokal u organizzazzjonijiet ohra interessati biex ikun analizzat x’ikun qed isir mir-rakkomandazzjonijiet li saru fir-Rapport tal-Missjoni ta’ Osservaturi tal-UE fl-elezzjonijiet presidenazjali u parlamentari li saru aktar kmieni din is-sena, liema missjoni kienet tmexxiet minn Prof. Scicluna.
Fost is-suggetti mqajma mill-eks-President Amerikan Jimmy Carter u l-eks-Prim Ministru Kanadiz Joe Clark kien hemm il-problemi politici li jiffaccjaw missjonijiet bhal dawn f’pajjizi fejn hemm nuqqas ta’ demokrazija flimkien mad-dilemma li jinqabdu fiha meta jigu biex jiddeciedu fuq ir-rizultat ta’ ezercizzju bhal dan. Kienu diskussi wkoll il-perikli li jghaddu minnhom dawk li jkunu jiffurmaw dawn il-missjonijiet. Madankollu kien hemm qbil dwar il-beneficcji enormi ghall-popli li jkunu qeghdin jaspiraw ghal futur hieles u demokratiku ta’ pajjizhom.
Il-laqgha ffukat fuq l-importanza specifika tal-osservazzjoni bhala strument ghall-izvilupp tad-demokrazija. Il-panels ddiskutew il-politika ta’ appogg ghall-elezzjonijiet u l-modi li bihom dan l-appogg jista’ jintuza bhala ghodda ghall-paci, stabbilita u riforma demokratika. Madwar 70 delegat minn 30 organizzazzjoni firmatarja tad-Dikjarazzjoni attendew ghal din il-laqgha annwali.
Kemm l-eks-President Amerikan kif ukoll l-eks-Prim Ministru Kanadiz esprimew ma’ Prof. Scicluna l-istima gholja li ghandhom lejn Malta u l-poplu taghha.