29/04/2026 Election observation | New Democratic Pact
“Free and fair elections are fundamental for our democracies – and credible election observation is essential to safeguarding them. It is a key part of the response to democratic backsliding and the growing loss of trust among voters,” today said Pablo Hispán (Spain, EPP/CD), Chair of the Council for Democratic Elections, at the closing session of a joint debate in Paris on the role of election observers.
“With our ‘Paris Call to Action’, which emerged from the debates, we are sending a strong and unified message to all Council of Europe member states and all electoral stakeholders,” Mr Hispán emphasised. This “Call to Action” invites member states, in particular, to provide a legislative framework for domestic observation with a view to facilitating the work of the observers; to systematically invite international election observation missions and facilitate their work; and to support the adoption of a specific Council of Europe instrument to protect electoral observation.
This event was co-organised by the Parliamentary Assembly, the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities and the Venice Commission of the Council of Europe on 28 and 29 April in the framework of the New Democratic Pact for Europe.