The European Commission is aware of problems concerning the arrangements for Serbian citizens voting abroad in the parliamentary elections scheduled for October 25, EU officials have confirmed, according to Radio Free Europe (RFE/RL).
European Commission spokesperson Guillaume Mercier told RFE/RL that the EU had previously stressed that free, fair and transparent elections are at the heart of European democracy.
“This includes citizens’ right to make their electoral choices freely and on the basis of information, as well as equal conditions for all election participants,” Mercier said.
He added that these principles also require equal access to the media, a clear separation between the state and political parties, and the avoidance of undue advantages for incumbent officeholders.
The European Commission’s comments come amid concerns in Serbia over the number and distribution of polling stations abroad for the upcoming parliamentary elections.
According to a separate report by Nova.rs, a member of Serbia’s Republican Electoral Commission said that between 120 and 130 polling stations should be available for voters in the diaspora, while the Ministry of Foreign Affairs had proposed 90.
The issue has drawn attention to the practical arrangements for enabling Serbian citizens living abroad to exercise their voting rights in the October 25 election.
