in the run-up to the elections, u.s. secretary of state colin powell publicly expressed his hopes that the organization for security and cooperation in europe (osce), which played an important role in supervising elections in ukraine, would undertake similar tasks in iraq. this did not take place, however, the responsibility for international supervision of the elections of january 30 was undertaken by a relatively small group of 35 un staffers. the european commission donated the sum of 31.5 million euros toward preparation for the elections, which included a training program for iraqi observers of the electoral process and the deployment of three european experts to baghdad to work with the un mission. the small size of this group was attributed to the problematic security situation in iraq. in addition, an ad hoc group called the international mission for iraqi elections monitored the electoral process from jordan, because of fears related to the security situation. this mission included members from britain, but no other eu country.