23/06/2025 Election observation
The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) ratified today revised guidelines for its election observation missions, aimed at strengthening integrity and transparency.
Building on a PACE resolution adopted in April 2025 and focused on upholding the rule of law and combating corruption within the Council of Europe, the updated guidelines reinforce the ethical framework governing PACE’s election observation activities, notably by prohibiting the appointment of “members who took part in non-official missions conducted for the purposes of observing elections or in connection with elections in the country concerned and which were sponsored by or undertaken at the invitation of a State, a parliamentary, governmental or non-governmental organisation, association, foundation or any other natural or legal person, which includes any mission that would contradict with the 2005 Declaration of Principles for International Election Observation, including the principle of impartiality.”
Among the key changes, the guidelines establish a new role of vice-chairperson within ad hoc committees to ensure leadership continuity if the chairperson is unable to perform his/her duties. The revised guidelines also provide that “members of the PACE election observation delegations may be requested to observe out-of-country voting in their country of residence, subject to a decision by the Bureau and according to the conditions laid down by it.”
Furthermore, if the OSCE/ODIHR does not deploy a long-term observation mission, PACE will now assess whether conditions are conducive to meaningful observation before deciding to send its own delegation.
Starting 1 January 2026, and in line with Resolution 2596, members participating in observation missions will be required to update their entry on their updatable online PACE declaration of interests. This measure is designed to improve the identification and management of potential conflicts of interest.