CFSP Statement
Declaration by the Presidency on behalf of the European Union on Guinea-Bissau

Date of release : 08-04-2005

Policy area : General Affairs and External Relations

The European Union fully supports the Presidential Statement of the UNSC issued on March 31 recognizing the progress achieved in Guinea Bissau in the last months, especially in the areas of the electoral process and in economic and budgetary management.

The European Union reiterates its commitment to assist in a peaceful and free electoral process leading to presidential elections on 19 June 2005. The EU also supports the ongoing efforts of Guinea-Bissau towards peace, political stability and sustainable development of which the security sector reform is an important element. In this context, the EU stresses the importance of the Donor Roundtable Conference scheduled for October 2005.

The European Union also expresses its growing concern at recent political developments in the country, particularly the decision by Mr. Kumba Yalá, with the support of the PRS party, to run for the next Presidential elections, due to take place on June 19. This decision which goes against the Transitional Charter, which was signed in the presence of international observers like the EU, ECOWAS and the UN, as well as his recent public declarations of radicalism and appeals for social and political unrest, can seriously undermine the efforts and progress achieved by the authorities of Guinea Bissau during the current political and military transitional process.

The European Union encourages all Guinea-Bissau stakeholders to renew their commitment towards reconciliation in order to prevent the derailing of the transitional process and to allow the country to break the cycle of political conflict.

The EU continues to support the primordial role of the UN and calls upon relevant regional organisations, such as the CPLP and ECOWAS to remain actively engaged in helping Guinea-Bissau to achieve political stability. 

The EU recalls the conclusions of the art. 96 consultation, highlighting in particular the commitment regarding the return to an independent judiciary and civil control of armed forces as well as the commitment to the holding of democratic elections.

In this context, the EU expresses its serious concerns regarding the perceived risks of a growing culture of impunity linked to politically motivated violence occurred in past crises underlining that this development is seen as a root cause for ongoing instability in the country.

The Acceding Countries Bulgaria and Romania, the Candidate Countries Turkey and Croatia*, the Countries of the Stabilisation and Association Process and potential candidates Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Serbia and Montenegro, and the EFTA countries Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway, members of the European Economic Area, align themselves with this declaration".

* Croatia continues to be part of the Stabilisation and Association Process