Vienna, 9 July 2026. Election-Watch.EU has developed a Model Framework for Election Observer Accreditation Procedures. This new practical tool proposes a structure for administrative procedures designed to facilitate independent, non-partisan election observation by national civil society organisations and international entities.
Election observation is widely recognised as a cornerstone of transparent, credible elections and of public confidence in democratic processes. For it to be effective, [...]
citizen election observation, election observation, observer accreditation
On 2 June 2026 Election-Watch.EU met with Juan Fernando López Aguilar, Rapporteur for the European Parliament’s 2022 proposal to reform the European Electoral Act, to exchange views on the future of European electoral reform and the lessons learned from previous reform efforts.
The discussion focused on the political and institutional challenges that have delayed reform, as well as priorities for the next reform cycle ahead of the 2029 European Parliament [...]
2024 EP elections, electoral integrity, electoral reforms, European elections
Brussels, 24 June 2026. Election-Watch.EU participated in the European Commission’s High-Level Event on Democracy, organised by the Directorate-General for Justice and Consumers (DG JUST) as part of the development of the European Democracy Shield. The conference demonstrated that the European Democracy Shield is increasingly evolving from a legislative initiative into a broader framework aimed at strengthening democratic resilience across the European Union.
The [...]
AI and elections, European Commission, european democracy shield, FIMI
On 8-9 June 2026, Election-Watch.EU participated in the European Partnership for Democracy (EPD) Annual Conference in Brussels and the Youth Democracy Cohort (Un)Conference. The events brought together democracy practitioners, civil society organisations, policymakers, researchers, youth activists, and representatives of EPD’s 21 member organisations to reflect on one central question: how can democracies remain resilient in times of growing political, social, [...]
centre for democratic resilience, Civil Society, democracy, youth participation
Brussels, 5 June 2026. From 3 to 5 June, Election-Watch.EU organised an in-person workshop under the NEEDS-EU project, bringing together civil society representatives, experts, practitioners, and researchers for three days of intense dialogue and learning.
The event offered a platform for dialogue and exchange, with participants from 21 EU Member States gathered in Brussels to share lessons learnt and develop common standards for election observation across the European [...]
citizen election observation, election observation, European elections, NEEDS EU, observer accreditation
On 26 May 2026, the Council of the European Union adopted a revised Directive aimed at strengthening the electoral rights of EU citizens residing in another Member State in municipal elections.
The reform updates and modernises the existing 1994 legislation governing the right of mobile EU citizens to vote and stand as candidates in local elections. It forms part of the broader European Democracy Package and complements the recently adopted reform concerning European Parliament elections.
The new [...]
Brussels, 14 May 2026. Election-Watch.EU has submitted its written contribution to the European Commission’s Targeted stakeholder consultation – European Democracy Shield Work strands on Safety in politics, AI in electoral processes and anti-SLAPPs. This submission follows our participation in the focus group discussions on Safety in Politics and AI in Electoral Processes held on 16 April 2026, and reflects expert insights into these two work strands of the European Democracy Shield.
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AI and elections, election security, European Commission, Political violence, safety in policial life
Today, 9 May, Europe Day is celebrated, marking the anniversary of the Schuman Declaration. On this day in 1950, Robert Schuman proposed a vision that moved beyond national competition toward a shared future of supranational cooperation. There is no better moment than this to reflect on the ongoing development and the resilience of the European electoral project.
76 years after Schuman’s vision was first shared, the European Parliament elections have grown into [...]
Brussels, 29 April 2026. Election-Watch.EU hosted the first Expert Group Meeting under the NEEDS EU project. The session focused on advancing discussions on observer accreditation procedures and identifying good practices to enhance election observer access across the 27 EU Member States.
At Election-Watch.EU, we believe that election observation [...]
election obervation, European elections, featured-en, NEEDS EU, observer accreditation