Ambassador Breteche Recommendation

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EU Recommendation
for the period as Head of Party, EU technical assistance project in West-Bank/Gaza 2002-03
by Ambassador Jean Breteche, EU Representative, Jerusalem
(A copy of the signed original document is available upon request)

EUROPEAN UNION

European Commission Technical Assistance Office (West Bank and Gaza, UNRWA)

Jerusalem, 15 November 2003

To WHOM IT MAY CONCERN,

Peter Erben has worked, from August 2002 to November 2003, as the Senior Election Expert for the European Commission in the context of our Technical Assistance Project to the Palestinian Electoral Process.

Peter first arrived in East Jerusalem in July 2002 as one of the key experts on the EU Explorative Election Mission to the Palestinian Territories. As such he was one of the lead authors of the team's report which became the foundation for the European Union's active engagement in the renewed drive to hold Palestinian general and municipal elections, which is a key pillar of the Quartet's Road Map to Peace.

The overall objective of the EU support to the Palestinian elections is to give the Palestinian society a chance to hold meaningful and credible elections in order to provide democratic legitimacy for its institutions on the road to statehood. In this context, the assistance provided by Peter covered all aspects of the preparatory and planning phases of the complete electoral process. This has facilitated the EU's decision to provide €10 million in financial assistance to the elections, as well as further technical assistance to ensure that a well-prepared, meaningful and credible election process can unfold.

Recognising Peter's comprehensive previous experience, he was directly recruited in August 2002 on a permanent basis by the European Commission as its Senior Election Expert in the area. In this role he made the following invaluable contributions to the electoral process:

Acted as the lead election advisor, not only to my office, but also to the responsible Director at Headquarters, capital-level meetings of the Quartet's Task Force on Palestinian Reform, the EU Member States' missions and other key parties, all of whom benefited from Peter's excellent guidance on the manifold of electoral issues.
Acted as the Secretariat to the local multi-donor Election Reform Support Group; the group responsible for monitoring and supporting electoral reform on behalf of Quartet and its Task Force on Palestinian Reform. In this context Peter greatly facilitated a united and well-coordinated approach by the U.S. and the EU as the two co-chairs of the group and other donors.
Vigorously pursued and promoted the establishment of a competent independent Palestinian election authority and, once established, supported the new Election Commission with his vast experience.
As Team Leader managed the European Commission Technical Assistance Project to the Palestinian Elections, comprising a team of 4 international experts and 4 local employees and through this provided further valuable support to the electoral process.

During Peter's assignment, the Palestinians have established an independent Central Election Commission and its executive arm, the National Election Office; institutions that are now mature enough to proceed with the holding of a highly complex voter registration process, which will be followed, should the environment allow, by Presidential and Parliamentary elections. Peter's contribution has been absolutely key to this achievement, which in turn will guarantee a successful implementation of the EU's financial assistance to the process.

Peter performed his duties with a very high degree of loyalty to us, an excellent sense of analysis and synthesis, great efficiency and also remarkable flexibility and adaptability to the local political situation and to our office's needs.

Peter was one of the best organised experts we ever encountered, was always hard working and available even when travelling, responded to inquiries always quickly and with substance, has been at all time punctual for meetings and when delivering reports, and possesses excellent drafting skills, always capturing the important and being to the point.

He also established excellent relations with representatives of the Palestinian Authority, the Palestinian Legislative Council, the Central Elections Commission, civil society, all involved diplomatic missions, and the other international election experts, facilitated by his remarkable communication, negotiation and diplomatic skills. This has greatly benefited the EU's role in the process and made us an acknowledged key player with all interlocutors.

We understand that after 15 months of highly valuable work for us, Peter will move on to other challenges, but hope a framework can be found which will allow for his continued participation in the Palestinian electoral process.

We will thus lose a very dedicated and reliable colleague, who carried out his difficult tasks in a complex political scenario in an excellent manner, with a very strong sense of responsibility, much enthusiasm and a very positive attitude.

I can strongly recommend Peter Erben to any future employer and I am confident that he will continue to be successful as a top international lead expert on elections.

Signature

Jean Breteche