On 10 March 2016, European MPs adopted a resolution on the political situation in Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and addressed several recommendations made to the EU.
After condemning the attacks against human rights defenders and emphasising the importance of the fight against impunity, the European Parliament pointed to the need to hold the elections within the constitutionally mandated time frame. The EP also stressed the importance of carrying out the recommendations of the 2011 Election Observation Mission (EOM) and the 2014 follow-up mission. The MPs said that European support for the elections should depend on the independence of the national elections commission, the revision of the electoral registers, budgetary requirements, and respect for the constitution. Lastly, they said that the MONUSCO mandate should be strengthened.
These recommendations echo those of FIDH which keep the European parliamentarians constantly up to date on the situation in DRC and which underscore the importance of ensuring that the elections abide by the constitution in order to avoid any new outbreaks of violence. FIDH is pushing for the MONUSCO mandate to be renewed and is recommending that European support for the elections only be granted if the 2011 and 2014 EOM recommendations are implemented.