ODIHR experts visit Skopje for consultations as part of Western Balkans election support project
A team of experts from the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights were in Skopje from 19 to 23 March for a consultation and planning visit as part of the ODIHR project Support to Elections in the Western Balkans.
In-depth consultations were held with key stakeholders regarding electoral reform needs and the roles and responsibilities of key stakeholders. The discussions aimed at encouraging an open and consultative reform process and focused on the election administration, voter lists and the role of media during campaigns.
“We are pleased to come here just after we presented the final report of our election observation mission for the 2017 municipal elections,” said Raul Muresan, ODIHR Project Co-ordinator. “Now we are offering our support for a reform process taking into consideration the recommendations from that report, as well as previous ODIHR recommendations.”
The ODIHR team met with senior officials from the Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Justice, Internal Affairs, and Information Society and Administration, as well as with representatives of the State Election Commission, the Macedonian Radio and Television public broadcaster and the Agency for Audio and Audiovisual Media Services. They also met with representatives of civil society and international organizations, including the European Union. The visit was organized with support from the OSCE Mission to Skopje.
Following the consultations, ODIHR will develop a strategic plan to support electoral reform that complements existing local initiatives and the work of other electoral assistance providers.
This was the fifth of six visits – one to each of the six beneficiaries of the project – to be carried out during the first phase of the three-year project. The project is funded by the European Union and the Austrian Development Agency.
All OSCE participating States have committed themselves to promptly following up on ODIHR election assessments and recommendations. ODIHR has consistently supported the effective follow-up of recommendations, and the project Support to Elections in the Western Balkans builds upon this support.