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Eritrean political and civil society organizations, including the Eritrean People's Democratic Party (EPDP), participated between 13 and 14 November 2015 at an important workshop in Frankfurt's ancient City Hall (offices of the Mayor of Frankfurt) and discussed and reached full understanding on ten significant issues that have important implications in the struggle to remove the current dictatorship and the transition period towards installing democratic system in the country.

Organized by the German Felsbeg Institute on research and education, including conflict issues, the workshop availed an opportunity for Eritreans to discuss various issues related to the struggle against the repressive regime in Asmara and how the transition from dictatorship to democratic governance could be worked out. All the ten participant organizations presented papers outlining their respective views and positions at the issues tabled for discussion and the possible scenarios of regime change and transition.

The workshop was attended by up to 30 participants from ten Eritrean political and civil society organizations, representatives of German parties (the ruling CDU and SPD); a German journalist; members and contact groups of the Felsberg Institute; independent observers like Dr. Mohammed Kheir; Dr. Daniel Rezene, and two observers from the Eritrean Solidarity Movement for National Salvation - ESMNS. The EPDP was represented by party leadership members Messrs. Woldeyesus Ammar, and Neguse Tseggai.

The meetings were moderated by Felsber Institute director, Dr. Harmut Quehl assisted by FI-Eritrea Contact Group members Dr. Gunter Schroeder, and Mr. Yacob Abraham.

The workshop participants asked for the organization of similar workshops on Eritrea and encouraged more civil society and political actors to participate in such future workshops on the problems in political transition in Eritrea.

At the end of the workshop, a ten-point understanding on which received unanimous support of participants was adopted and signed to be released to the public. The points were summarized as follows:

1. To work together towards a democratic change in Eritrea;

2. To strive for a peaceful solution;

3. To elaborate on a legal framework for the transition process and reestablish the rule of law;

4. To separate state and religion while the state guarantees the freedom of religion;

5. To put an end to the pervasive practice of militarization;

6. To foster good relations with the neighboring countries on the basis of reciprocal respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity;

7. To use Arabic and Tigrigna as official languages, in combination with equal rights for all other languages in Eritrea;

8. To agree, as a minimum consensus, on a decentralized political system;

9. To ensure more representation of women and youth;

10. To call for the potentially reform-minded forces inside the PFDJ and the military to participate in the dialogue on peaceful transition;