election-watch.eu

Brussels, 18 November 2023: Election-Watch.EU conducted the first, in-person part of the Pre-Election Assessment Mission (PEAM) from 15 to 18 November in Brussels. The three member team met representatives of European institutions, European political parties and civil society.

The PEAM, aims at assessing the European electoral reforms progress since 2019, areas of contention, possible threats and risks in the European electoral processes, while raising awareness about the 2024 European Parliament (EP) elections and possible recommended reforms.

Specific Objectives

• Assessing changes of the electoral legal framework and procedures since the 2019 EP elections;
• Advocating for European electoral reforms and civil society participation;
• Strengthening European election expert/ observer network including like-minded groups;
• Establishing citizen-led election observation as acknowledged good practice in Europe;
• Continuing comparative research on European electoral processes and –management;
• Identifying which electoral aspects the planned Election-Watch.EU Election Assessment Mission (EAM) 2024 should specifically focus on;
• Providing first-hand information about the preparedness of elections ahead of the SEEEDS project in-person event of all Election-Watch.EU focal points.

Areas of Interest

• Status of European electoral reforms;
• Cooperation and cohesion of election management bodies and structures in the EU;
• Progress in harmonising voter registration and electoral calendars;
• Measures for greater inclusion of persons with disabilities;
• Legislation and regulation of social media networks and platforms (DSA, DMA, AI Act, etc.);
• Upcoming European regulation on political campaigning;
• Measures to promote cybersecurity and counter disinformation and external interference;
• New regulations regarding European party and campaign finance;
• Status quo and reform agenda regarding the electoral participation of mobile EU citizens;
• Measures to strengthen women participation and representation in European elections;
• Measures to involve young and first-time voters in elections;
• Situation of civic space and election observation within EU Member States.

During the second part of the Pre-Election Assessment Mission meetings will be continued and held online in the following week. A report with findings is scheduled to be published beginning of next year. 

2024 EP elections, accountability, citizen led election observation, data protection in elections, election security, EP elections 2024, equality, featured-en, inclusion in elections, transparency, transparency of political campaign