EU Donates 22 Vehicles to NEBE to Support Election Operation

February 25/2021(ENA)European Union (EU) today donated 22 new vehicles to the National Electoral Board of Ethiopia (NEBE) to enhance logistic needs of the upcoming national election.

During the hand over event, Chairperson of the National Electoral Board of Ethiopia (NEBE), Birtukan Mideksa said the partnership and supports of the European Union are tremendously boosting the capacity of NEBE in addition to government’s commitment.

The partnership between NEBE and EU is multi-faced, she noted, adding that it includes financial and technical supports and are helpful in the middle of the journey to the elections to strengthen logistics and capacity.

The vehicles have arrived in a critical time when NEBE needed logistics and capacity support, the chairperson observed.

“We are gearing towards embarking on a very herculean task of voters’ registration soon,” she stressed, adding that “we are going to do that in 50,000 places of the country, expected to register 40-50 million citizens.”

Head of EU Cooperation and Delegation to Ethiopia, Erik Habers on his part said the EU provides support for the democratization of partner countries.

In Ethiopia, EU is providing a comprehensive democratic support package that includes support to NEBEm, he added.

“EU provides extensive support to initiatives and programs that seek to develop and consolidate human rights, democratic institutions and rule of law in partner countries,” Erik Habers pointed out.  

According to him, the main objective of the EU support to election 2021 is to contribute to increased transparency and credibility in the electoral process and to instill a high degree of public trust in the NEBE.

“The 22 cars handed over today will improve technical operations of NEBE and further facilitate electro-logistical operations in the different regions of Ethiopia,” he noted.

EU-NEBE partnership also includes support to the ongoing candidate and voters’ registration.

The support to NEBE is provided to a project which is jointly funded by the EU and Germany for a total amount of 800 million Birr, it was learned.

The Ethiopian government has also asked the EU to send election observation mission and preparation is ongoing on the EU side, he added.