“This conference has reaffirmed a fundamental point: election observation remains a cornerstone of democratic legitimacy. In today’s increasingly complex and, at times, fragile political environments, the role of observers is more important than ever. They help build public trust, enhance transparency, and contribute to the credibility of electoral processes.” Srdjan Darmanović, Vice-Chair of the Council for Democratic Elections, member of the Venice Commission in respect of Montenegro. Concluding remarks.
The participants in the high-level event "Towards trusted and inclusive electoral processes: the role of observers", co-organised by the Parliamentary Assembly, the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities and the Venice Commission of the Council of Europe in Paris on 28-29 April 2026 within the framework of the New Democratic Pact for Europe, call on the Council of Europe’s member States to:
- Recognise that electoral observation, both domestic and international, plays an important role in enhancing the transparency and integrity of electoral processes, thereby reinforcing public trust in democracy, and that election observers act both as watchdogs of democratic processes and human rights defenders;
- Provide a strong legislative framework for domestic observation with a view to facilitating the work of the observers and ensuring their free movement and unhindered access to polling stations, as well as observers’ security;
- Systematically invite international election observation missions and facilitate their work by providing a framework that ensures access and security for international observers;
- Ensure meaningful and timely follow-up to the findings and conclusions of international election observation missions;
- Support the adoption of a specific Council of Europe instrument to guarantee, protect and promote electoral observation.
