European partnership for democracy, EPD

The EU–Zimbabwe political dialogue: moving towards enhanced cooperation

On July 2 2010, the High Representative / Vice President Catherine Ashton and Commissioner for Development Andris Piebalgs met with a Ministerial Delegation from the Zimbabwean Government in the framework of the Political Dialogue, as foreseen in the Cotonou Agreement, which was relaunched in June last year. Read more.

Press Release: European MPs Reject Sham Elections and Pledge Support for Daw Aung San Suu Kyi

The European Parliamentary Caucus on Burma has written an open letter to Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, detained leader of Burma's democracy movement, on the occasion of her 65th birthday. The European Parliamentary Caucus on Burma represents MPs from sixteen countries. The MPs pledged to continue to work for genuine democracy and human rights in Burma, rejecting sham elections due later this year. Read more.

Zimbabwe: Next Steps in the Consitutional Reform Process

The visit last weekend of European Commissioner Karel de Gucht (Development and Humanitarian Aid) with the Swedish and Spanish Ministers for International Cooperation might not have changed Europe's attitude towards Zimbabwe's Inclusive Government, but it did show Europe's commitment to, and solidarity with, the transition that is ongoing in the country. During the EPD delegation's stay in Harare in early September, President Zuma of South Africa met with the country's leaders, and the regional body SADC decided to host a special Zimbabwe summit in Maputo. But does all this international attention benefit the internal Zimbabwean dynamics of the ongoing transition? Read the EPD's latest report here.

Czech Havel condemns verdict against Burmese dissident

Former Czech president (EPD note: and EPD Patron) Vaclav Havel  condemned the 18-month house arrest a Burmese court imposed on the opposition leader and Nobel Peace Prize winner Aung San Suu Kyi today. Havel said he considers the verdict "scandalous" and typical of "the political cynicism of one of the toughest totalitarian regimes in the world." (...) The Czech People in Need organisation said the verdict was unjust and the trial manipulated. People in Need called on the U.N. Security Council to immediately adopt stricter restrictive measures towards the Burmese junta, including a global arms embargo on Burma and the establishment of a commission to investigate the junta´s crimes against humanity. Link to article.

Cuba refuses to issue visa for German MP Markus Meckel

The Cuban government has refused to issue a visa for Markus Meckel, Member of the Bundestag and Deputy Foreign Policy Spokesperson of the SPD  Parliamentary Group and Member of the Board of EPD. Meckel had planned to visit Cuba between July 5 and 12 and to meet with representatives of the government as well as of the pro-democracy opposition, churches and civil society. More info.

Zimbabwean Prime Minister as well as civil society leaders tour Europe

Prime Minister Tsvangirai has been touring European capitals to raise funds and re-establish relations between the unity government and the EU, normalizing the frozen relations of the past 10 years. Zimbabwean civil society leaders travelled European capitals as well, preparing the ground for the official delegation's visit, on a tour prepared by the Zimbabwe Europe Network. The European Partnership for Democracy co-organised a Roundtable for Brussels-based civil society, European and African governments and EU institutions, at which four Zimbabwean civil society leaders. To the article...

If we would have wanted a revolution, we should not have started negotiating

Zimbabwe's Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai starts a three weeks tour visiting Western capitals to inform governments about the progress of his Inclusive Government in order to persuade international donors to re-engage with Zimbabwe.  At his first stop in The Netherlands, the European Partnership for Democracy and the Netherlands Institute for Multiparty Democracy met with Prime Minister Tsvangirai and Minister of Economic Planning Elton Mangoma. More...

From enemies to partners: Zimbabwean Ministers talk about the difficult path of transition

Zimbabwe set to start constitutional reform process

While some of the EU Member States are preparing their commemorations of the 20th anniversary of transition to democracy, Zimbabwe’s Inclusive Government is preparing to start a revision of the current constitution in a complicated transitional context with ongoing violence, a widespread political culture of fear and mistrust and a devastated economy. Zimbabwe cannot afford a failure of this Inclusive Government and Europe should do its utmost to support the transitional work where possible. Please read the article.

Directions Africa programme EPD (2 February 2009)

Government of National Unity in Zimbabwe