EurAc–OSEPI Conference on DR Congo elections & the role of the EU - 2 June 2016 at the European Parliament

Elections in the Democratic Republic of the Congo: European Union support for a credible democratic process

The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is due to hold presidential and legislative elections in November 2016. Yet in a volatile pre-electoral period, political and security tensions are on the rise. Worrying attempts to undermine political transition, shrinking democratic space and a dramatic increase in human rights violations pose an acute threat to a credible and peaceful transfer of power in Congo’s young democracy.

This conference, hosted by MEP Maria Arena (S&D) and Mariya Gabriel (EPP)  brings together institutional, academic and civil society actors to discuss the role and responsibility of the EU to support a credible democratic process in the DRC. This event will also launch a joint EurAc-OSEPI advocacy document, which, based on extensive field work and research in both Brussels and the DRC, analyses political, technical and security challenges ahead of the anticipated elections, and highlights options for EU action