Declaration of Principles for International Election Observation Annual Meeting, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 14-17 November 2023
From 14 to 17 November 2023, European Centre for Electoral Support (ECES) participated in and co-organised the 2023 Implementation and Convening Committee Meetings for endorsers of the Declaration of Principles (DoP), hosted for the first time by the African Union following the handover from the European Union. The event brought together more than 50 international organisations and stakeholders involved in electoral observation and democratic governance.
As a signatory of the Declaration of Principles, ECES co-organised the meeting together with the African Union under the framework of the Pro-Electoral Integrity Project, funded by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation. ECES Vice-President Filiberto Ceriani participated in the discussions focused on election observation and electoral integrity.
On 14 November 2023, the opening day featured welcoming remarks by H.E. Ambassador Ayele Lire and keynote interventions from Cristina Castagnoli of the European Parliament. Discussions focused on the evolving landscape of credible international election observation and set the stage for collaborative exchanges among participating organisations.
On 15 November 2023, participants engaged in thematic sessions addressing communication practices in election observation, youth participation in electoral processes, and the challenges posed by disinformation, violence, and rapidly evolving electoral environments. Discussions explored strategies to enhance transparency, strengthen youth engagement, and adapt observation methodologies to contemporary electoral challenges.
On 16 November 2023, high-level dialogues brought together experienced Heads of Mission to discuss the future of election observation missions in increasingly complex political and security contexts. Panels focused on operational challenges in “no-go zones,” improving security measures for both international and citizen observers, and assessing how changing conflict dynamics may affect observer recruitment and deployment conditions.
Throughout the meeting, participating organisations, including the European Parliament, the AU Advisory Panel on Democratic Governance, and the Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR), exchanged experiences and perspectives aimed at advancing credible, transparent, and inclusive electoral processes worldwide.
Declaration of Principles for International Election Observation Annual Meeting, Warsaw, Poland, 20–22 November 2024
From 20 to 22 November 2024, the European Centre for Electoral Support (ECES) participated in the Annual Implementation Meeting of the Declaration of Principles for International Election Observation (DoP 2024), held in Gdańsk, Poland. The event brought together international electoral stakeholders to exchange experiences and discuss innovations shaping the future of election observation worldwide.
Representing ECES at the meeting were Filiberto Sebregondi, Vice President of the ECES Strategic & Advisory Committee, Amirouche Nedjaa, ECES Media Monitoring and Communication Expert, and Khaldoun Dudin, ECES Senior ICT Electoral Expert.
During the meeting, ECES presented its new tools for election observation, with a particular focus on the Election Management System (EMS). The presentation highlighted how technological and methodological innovations are increasingly contributing to more effective, efficient, and adaptive electoral observation processes. Discussions explored how new systems, software, and approaches are being introduced to address emerging challenges in election observation and strengthen engagement throughout electoral processes.
The session also served as a platform for information-sharing and peer learning among participants, enabling organizations and experts from across the globe to exchange best practices and reflect on evolving trends in international election observation.
Through its participation, ECES reaffirmed its commitment to supporting democratic processes and promoting innovation in the field of electoral assistance and observation.
Convening Committee of the Declaration of Principles for International Election Observation, New York, United States of America, 17–18 June 2025
The European Centre for Electoral Support (ECES) facilitated the participation of the delegation of the African Union Commission in the Convening Committee meeting of the Declaration of Principles for International Election Observation, held in New York City on 17–18 June 2025.
On 17–18 June 2025, the UN Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs (DPPA) hosted the Convening Committee meeting for the Declaration of Principles for International Election Observation in New York. The meeting brought together representatives of endorsing organizations and key stakeholders in the field of international election observation to discuss current challenges facing electoral integrity and the future of international observation methodologies.
Discussions focused on the evolving electoral environment, including the impact of disinformation, artificial intelligence, digital campaigning, political polarization, and increasingly restrictive operational contexts for election observation missions. Participants also exchanged views on strengthening cooperation among endorsing organizations and adapting observation methodologies to emerging technological and political realities.
The meeting formed part of the broader implementation process of the Declaration of Principles for International Election Observation (DoP), originally launched at the United Nations in 2005 and endorsed by more than fifty intergovernmental and international non-governmental organizations worldwide. The Declaration establishes common principles and professional standards for credible, impartial, and independent international election observation.
The Convening Committee also prepared the agenda and priorities for the Twentieth Anniversary Implementation Meeting of the Declaration of Principles, held later in 2025 in Geneva. Discussions emphasized the continued relevance of international election observation in promoting transparency, public confidence, and democratic governance amid a rapidly changing global electoral landscape.
Implementation Meeting of the Declaration of Principles for International Election Observation, New York, United States of America, 11–14 November 2025
The European Centre for Electoral Support (ECES) facilitated the participation of the delegation of the African Union Commission in the Implementation Meeting of the Declaration of Principles for International Election Observation, held in New York City from 11–14 November 2025.
Hosted under the framework of the Declaration of Principles for International Election Observation (DoP), the meeting gathered representatives of endorsing organizations, election experts, and international partners to review developments in the field of election observation and discuss collective responses to emerging challenges affecting democratic processes worldwide.
The discussions addressed key issues related to electoral integrity, including the increasing influence of artificial intelligence and digital technologies on electoral processes, the spread of disinformation and online manipulation, shrinking civic and political spaces, and security challenges faced by election observers in fragile contexts. Participants also exchanged experiences on strengthening observation methodologies, improving coordination among organizations, and enhancing the credibility and effectiveness of international election observation missions.
Particular attention was devoted to the twentieth anniversary of the Declaration of Principles, adopted at the United Nations in 2005, which continues to serve as a key normative framework for impartial, independent, and professional international election observation. The meeting provided an opportunity for endorsing organizations to reflect on the evolution of election observation over the past two decades and to identify priorities for future cooperation and methodological adaptation.
The Implementation Meeting reaffirmed the importance of multilateral collaboration in supporting transparent, inclusive, and credible electoral processes and highlighted the continued role of international election observation in promoting democratic governance and public confidence in elections worldwide.
Participation in the Declaration of Principles for International Election Observation Annual Meeting, Geneva, Switzerland, 10–12 December 2025
From 10 to 12 December 2025, the European Centre for Electoral Support (ECES) participated in the 20th Anniversary of the Declaration of Principles for International Election Observation, held at the United Nations Headquarters in Geneva. The anniversary meeting brought together endorsing organisations, international institutions and electoral stakeholders to take stock of two decades of implementation of the Declaration and to reaffirm a collective commitment to credible and professional election observation worldwide.
The programme comprised a high-level segment on recommitting to the Declaration, together with thematic sessions addressing key aspects of election observation, including election integrity in the digital context, disinformation and artificial intelligence, political polarisation, elections in high-risk security environments, and the adaptation of tools and methodologies to evolving political and funding contexts.
Endorsing organisations adopted a Joint Press Statement reaffirming their shared commitment to the principles of credible, impartial, independent and professional international election observation, as well as to continued cooperation in addressing evolving challenges affecting electoral processes worldwide. ECES supports this Joint Press Statement and its reaffirmation of the Declaration of Principles, which are fully aligned with the organisation’s mandate and ongoing work in the field of election assistance and democratic governance.
On this occasion, Fabio Bargiacchi, Founder and Executive Director of ECES, addressed participants, reaffirming ECES’s long-standing commitment to supporting electoral integrity across the entire electoral cycle. In his intervention, he clarified ECES’s role within the broader election observation community, emphasising that the organisation does not conduct election observation directly, but instead focuses on supporting domestic election observation organisations in the countries where it operates.
Our Executive Director outlined ECES’s structured approach, centred on three complementary areas of work. First, ECES provides electoral analysis, including Electoral Political Economy Analyses and Electoral Security Threat Assessments, carried out in close cooperation with civil society organisations, electoral management bodies and other key electoral stakeholders. Second, ECES invests in capacity development and training, notably through long-term programmes for civil society and electoral stakeholders implemented in partnership with academic institutions such as the University of Sant’Anna, as well as through close cooperation with the African Union, including peer learning initiatives and civic education activities. Third, ECES develops and deploys digital tools supporting domestic election observation, media monitoring, conflict mapping, and the aggregation and dissemination of observation findings.
The words of the ECES Executive Director (https://www.eces.eu/en/fabio-bargiacchi) echoed the spirit of the Declaration of Principles for International Election Observation, reaffirming the importance of credible, professional and internationally recognised standards in safeguarding genuine democratic elections. ECES’s participation in the anniversary meeting underscored its continued engagement with the international election observation community and its commitment to strengthening democratic processes.