Milestones reached after four years of strengthening electoral reforms in the Western Balkans
Since 2021, the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) has been assisting institutions and civil society with implementing election observation recommendations through its Support to Electoral Reforms in the Western Balkans project, ODIHR said today in looking back on the project’s achievements so far.
The project assists institutional stakeholders (parliaments, electoral reform working groups, election management bodies, relevant ministries as well as the state agencies/regulatory bodies responsible for specific election-related aspects) as well as civil society organizations in improving their work and practices, enabling them to create the conditions for and administer elections effectively, impartially, and transparently. One of its key objectives is to increase the accuracy of voter lists and improve voter registration processes, through effective coordination with population registers and support to increase public scrutiny of these lists.
“Despite significant challenges, from the COVID-19 pandemic to politically charged environments and frequent elections in some countries that reduces opportunity and appetite for electoral reform, the synergies we and our partners in the region have developed has led to impressive results,” said ODIHR Director’s Alternate / First Deputy Director Tea Jaliashvili.
The project offers assistance to Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, North Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia, as well as Kosovo*, with activities based on the recommendations of prior election observation missions in the region. It builds on work carried out by a previous project working in the region in 2017 to 2020.
From the very beginning, the project has worked to improve the knowledge and capacity of media regulation bodies to monitor and regulate media conduct during elections. This effort contributes to creating a pluralistic and fair campaign environment. To achieve this goal, the project works to improve election campaign rules and practices, ensuring that parties and candidates can freely present their views without fear of retribution of any kind. Other activities work to improve campaign finance disclosure and enforcement mechanisms, promoting transparency and accountability.
The project also aims to improve the skills and independence of electoral dispute resolution bodies, enabling them to effectively adjudicate election disputes and thus contributing to electoral integrity, public confidence in the electoral process, and respect for the rule of law.
Since its inception, the project has organized 12 topical workshops, as well as seven regional conferences with a total of 425 participants, organised in collaboration with the local OSCE field offices. These events provided a platform for regional exchange on challenges and opportunities related to online election campaigning, electronic voter identification, follow-up on election recommendations and the important role of civil society in these efforts, election dispute resolution systems, improving election administration, campaign finance systems, and free and fair election campaigning.
Through activities such as legal and technical assistance, expert visits, pioneering audits and publications, ODIHR’s project strengthens election management bodies and civil society in moving toward much-needed electoral reform in the region. Through its many meetings and activities, the project has been able to make a significant impact, reaching almost 150 institutions and civil society organizations.
“Looking ahead as the project moves forward with additional funding and support, we hope to see even greater engagement and commitment from everyone involved in the election process, allowing us to build on the achievements of the project so far and work together to implement lasting reforms and strengthen the democratic process throughout the region,” said Meaghan Fitzgerald, Head of ODIHR’s Election Department.
The Support to Electoral Reforms in the Western Balkans Project was initially funded by the EU and the Austrian Development Agency. Since November 2024, the project continues with the generous support from new donors, including Germany and Norway.
All references to Kosovo, whether to the territory, institutions or population, in this text should be understood in full compliance with United Nations Security Council Resolution 1244.