Schulz over binnenlandse waarnemers bij verkiezingen buiten de EU (en)

The President of the European Parliament Martin Schulz welcomed today's launching of the Declaration of Global Principles for Nonpartisan Election Observation and Monitoring by Citizen Organizations and its code of conduct. An initiative to mark the entry into force of this declaration takes place today at the United Nations premises in New York with several citizens' organisation present.

To mark this declaration, President Schulz stated:

"The European Parliament is a strong advocate of cooperation with domestic observer organisations which should be on the front line whenever an election process takes place.

International observers, such as the EU, are only temporarily deployed in a country; they come and go. Domestic organisations are there to stay.

It is domestic organisations that are able to observe significant parts of the election cycle and to closely monitor the post-election developments. We rely on their specific national experience and knowledge of the political culture, language and territory of the country observed.

Such a Declaration is essential for election observation activity as it affirms principles, commitments and the highest ethical standards for impartiality and accuracy shared by those applied in international election observation.

The European Parliament has therefore decided to become a Supporter of the Declaration, and welcome the fact that the High Representative, Vice president of the Commission is following the same path. "