Declaration of Principles for International Election Observation

Role of EU EOM

"International election observation is based on the principles of full coverage, impartiality, transparency and professionalism. Its ultimate objective is to become superfluous by entrenching democracy deep within each nation through development of national capacities. Its main goals are the legitimisation of an electoral process, where appropriate, and the enhancement of public confidence in the electoral process, to deter fraud, to strengthen respect for human rights, and to contribute to the resolution of conflict."

Excerpt from COMMUNICATION FROM THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES on EU Election Assistance and Observation Brussels, 11.4.2000, COM(2000), 191 final

Election Observation Missions
The observation of elections is an important component of the EU's policy in promoting human rights and democratisation throughout the world. The EU undertakes such activities on the basis of partnership with the host country and with the objective of developing national capacity. The EU has developed a long term methodology for the conduct of its EOMs, in accordance with good international practice. Each mission will, wherever possible, consist of a Core Team, Long Term Observers (LTOs) and Short Term Observers (STOs). The EOM will be led by the Chief Observer, and the core team will comprise an election and logistics component.

In recent years the EU has organised EOMs in a large number of countries, including:

Zimbabwe, Peru, Zambia, East Timor, Guyana, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nicaragua, Cambodia, Congo Brazzaville, Sierra Leone, Ecuador, Pakistan, Madagascar, Kenya, West Bank & Gaza Strip, Nigeria, Rwanda, Cambodia, Guatemala, Mozambique and Indonesia.

The observation mission assesses the registration of candidates, the campaign and the preparations for election day, as well as making an assessment of the electoral framework, the democratic and human rights environment and conducting a monitoring of the media during the campaign. Regular meetings are held with election officials at the national, regional and local levels, and political parties, candidates, civil society and media throughout the country.

The deployment of EU observers has two specific objectives:

1. To produce an informed statement on the organisation and conduct of the election and the electoral machinery, including recommendations for improvements in the process for future elections on the basis of data collected during the observation of the electoral process, including the campaign period, the polling and counting process, and immediate post-election events;
   
2. To contribute, by its very presence, to reducing the possibility of electoral frauds and illegal procedures that could invalidate the electoral process and de-legitimise it in the view of the population, as well as increase friction between political parties.
   

A provisional statement of observation, including the preliminary result of the observation mission, will be made public by the Chief Observer as soon as all the observer's information has been received and analysed.

A final report of observation will follow, based on the events observed by the mission during the electoral campaign and on voting day and an analysis of other sources such as media monitoring projects and information received by local and international observers.

All EUEOMs are guided by the following seven criteria in reaching conclusions on the election process: