Appendix – Terms of Reference of the Parliamentary
Assembly Network of Election Observers
The Parliamentary Assembly has been committed
to election observation since 1991, providing essential recommendations
that have helped shape the electoral legislation of member States
and informed the endeavours of both the Monitoring and the Political
Affairs Committees.
Confronting emerging challenges that threaten electoral integrity
and undermine public trust in democratic processes, the Assembly
has decided to take a more proactive stance in advocating for activities
aimed at enhancing the legal frameworks and improved electoral practices
in member States. In 2022, its Elections Division co-initiated the
Council of Europe’s Electoral Cycle, in 2023 it organised the Bern
Conference on "Elections in times of crisis", which drew on the
synergies of various stakeholders, including members of International
Election Observation Missions (IEOM), electoral management bodies,
civil society organisations, and academic institutions.
In response to the "Reykjavik Principles for Democracy" adopted
at the Council of Europe Summit of Heads of State and Government
(16-17 May 2023) and the subsequent Riga Declaration which committed
the Assembly to “strengthening its initiatives to uphold the integrity
of elections”, the Assembly has realigned its activities, including
by incorporating intergovernmental election cooperation in its structures
as of January 2024 to enhance support for member States throughout
the electoral process. It is now also managing the Council
of Europe Electoral Cycle and focusing more on the preparation and follow-up to
the Assembly’s thematic reports on topics such as foreign interference,
crisis situations, migrant portrayal in campaigns, reconstruction
of Ukraine, etc.
In this context, the creation of a Parliamentary Network of
election observers will facilitate cross-cutting dialogue on electoral
issues and will formally represent the Assembly in external forums,
without altering the operational mechanisms of existing election
observation missions (EOMs) or new cooperation activities. The terms
of reference for this newly established network are delineated below.
Aim of the Network
1. In accordance with
Resolution 2538 (2024) "Promoting the revised Code of Good Practice on Referendums",
the Parliamentary Assembly decides to create the Parliamentary Assembly
Network of Election Observers to enable a more effective exchange
among PACE observers, reinforce electoral activities and enhance
the visibility of the Assembly's electoral endeavours in light of
post-Reykjavik Summit and the addition of a co-operation component.
2. In particular, as platform of exchange, the Network should:
2.1 foster exchange of information
on electoral activities and election observation missions (EOMs) between
PACE observers;
2.3 organise dedicated seminars;
2.4 ensure the representation of the Assembly in external
electoral activities;
2.5 promote visibility of the Assembly’s electoral activities
its contribution to the Council of Europe Electoral Cycle.
3. The Bureau of the Assembly remains responsible for the appointment
of PACE ad hoc committees to observe elections and referenda in
line with the Assembly’s Rules of Procedure (Appendix XIII).
Composition of the Network
1. The Network shall be composed
of members approved by the Bureau of the Assembly, as follows:
1.1 in respect of the member States
of the Council of Europe: members of the Parliamentary Assembly
on the basis of candidatures presented by the political groups and
taking into account active participation in PACE election observation
missions, gender balance and regional balance. The Bureau of the
Assembly shall approve additional members to the Network from among
the representatives and substitutes of the Assembly who do not belong
to any political group upon proposal of the Bureau of the Network;
1.2 in respect of the parliaments with Observer or Partner
for Democracy status with the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council
of Europe: one member of parliament for each unicameral parliament,
and one member of each Chamber for bicameral parliaments, appointed
by the national delegation;
1.3 a representative appointed by the Congress of Local and
Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe;
1.4 a representative appointed by the Venice Commission.
2. The President of the Assembly, the Chairpersons of the Committee
on Political Affairs and Democracy, of the Monitoring Committee
and of the Committee of Legal Affairs and Human Rights, the chairpersons
of political groups, the General Rapporteur on Democracy, as well
as the representatives of the Assembly in the Council for Democratic
Elections of the Venice Commission (members and substitutes), shall
be ex officio members of the Network.
Working methods of the Network
1. In terms of application of
the Rules of Procedure of the Assembly, the Network shall follow
the rules applicable to sub-committees of the Assembly (article
49 of the Rules), except as otherwise provided.
2. The working languages of the Network shall be English and
French.
3. The Bureau of the Network shall be composed of one member
designated by each political group and approved by the Bureau of
the Assembly. The Chairperson of the Network shall be designated
among the members of the Bureau of the Network on the basis of an
agreement reached among the political groups ensuring the rotation
amongst political groups. The chairperson and the vice-chairpersons
of the Network shall remain in office until the opening of the next
ordinary session of the Assembly. They may serve for one further term,
consecutive or not. A chairperson or vice-chairperson of the Network
designated in the course of a session for an incomplete term may
be designated for maximum two further terms.
4. The costs of participation of members of the Network in its
meetings and events shall be borne by the respective national parliaments.
5. The Network shall develop co-operation with all Council of
Europe parties active in electoral matters within the framework
of the Council of Europe Electoral Cycle, in particular the Steering
Committee on Democracy (CDDEM) and the Rapporteur Group on Democracy
(GR-DEM).
6. The Network shall actively co-operate with national parliaments
and parliamentarians in and beyond Europe, as well as parliamentary
networks and regional and international parliamentary assemblies,
including but not limited to the Assembly’s partners in the framework
of the International Election Observation Missions, in particular
the Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights of the Organization
for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE/ ODIHR), OSCE PA,
EP and NATO PA.
7. The Network shall also co-operate with other international
organisations, election management bodies, NGOs as well as representatives
of the media and the academia dealing with electoral matters.
8. The Network shall periodically, and at least once a year,
report to the Bureau of the Assembly of its activities, which shall
approve its decisions.
