An observation mission does not interfere in the electoral process and has no authority to change, improve or correct any shortcomings or to request changes during the election process. The observation mission has only the mandate to collect and verify information concerning the election process, to analyse the observations and, then, after the elections, to publish its findings. As a rule, an EU EOM never operates in a country against the will of the host government.

The purpose of EU EOMs around the world is to provide support for the development of the country's democratic institutions and procedures, and to assist partner countries in their objective to hold elections of a high standard.

EU key objectives

To conduct a comprehensive analysis of the electoral process and to offer an impartial and informed assessment of the elections and strengthen the confidence of voters to participate freely.

An observation mission assesses all aspects of the electoral process, including the delimitation of constituencies; the registration of voters and candidates; the training of election staff; voter education; media coverage, the campaign and the preparations for Election Day, as well as the appeals process. It also makes an assessment of the constitutional and electoral framework. On Election Day, observers visit polling stations in order to observe the opening, voting, the counting and the aggregation of results.

Regular meetings are held with election officials at national, regional and local levels, political parties, candidates, civil society and media throughout the country. Observers clearly distinguish between complaints, rumours, accusations and verified facts. Only facts that are witnessed or verified by the observers will be used as the basis of the mission's report. Furthermore, although the mission co-operates with other (observer) organisations, only information collected by its own international observers will be used for the mission's statement and final report.

In recent years the EU has organised EOMs across the world, including: Sierra Leone, Sri Lanka, Togo, Tanzania, Guyana, Zimbabwe, Peru, Nicaragua, Ivory Coast, the Palestinian Territories, Indonesia, Bangladesh, East Timor, Suriname, Cambodia, South Africa, Pakistan, Madagascar, Ecuador, Kenya, Nigeria, Rwanda, Cambodia, Guatemala and Mozambique, West Bank and Gaza, Ethiopia and Guinea Bissau.

A few days after the election, the Chief Observer of the EU EOM issues a public preliminary statement based on long-term and short-term observations of the entire process. Approximately one month after the final results, a comprehensive report is issued, which will include a series of recommendations for improvements to the overall electoral process and democratic environment.

The seven criteria

The European Union adopted in 2000 the following election assessment criteria:

• The degree of impartiality shown by the Election Administration.
  
• The degree of freedom of political parties and candidates to assemble and express their views.
  
• The fairness of access to state resources made available for the election.
  
• The degree of access for political parties and candidates to the media, in particular the state media.
  
• The universal franchise afforded to voters.
  
• Any other issue which concerns the democratic nature of the election (e.g campaign violence, rule of law, legislative framework.)
  
• The conduct of polling and counting of votes.

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