The European Union will closely monitor Serbia’s parliamentary elections scheduled for October 25, the European Commission said, stressing that free, fair and transparent elections are fundamental to European democracy.
An EU spokesperson told the Serbian outlet Savremena politika that democratic institutions must function properly, particularly in the conduct of elections, and that this is also an important element of Serbia’s EU accession process.
The spokesperson emphasized that European and international standards require respect for fundamental freedoms and the right of citizens to make their electoral choices freely and on the basis of adequate information.
The EU also stressed the importance of ensuring equal conditions for all electoral participants, including equal access to the media, a clear separation between the state and political parties, and avoiding unjustified advantages arising from the exercise of public office.
The European Commission further highlighted the importance of election observation by the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR), as well as domestic observers.
ODIHR opened its election observation mission in Serbia on September 16 ahead of the October 25 early parliamentary elections. The mission is assessing key aspects of the electoral process, including the campaign, media coverage, campaign financing, election administration, electoral legislation, voter registration, disinformation and the resolution of election-related disputes.
The ODIHR mission is headed by Eoghan Murphy and includes a core team of international experts and long-term observers, with additional short-term observers expected around election day.
The EU’s latest comments come as Serbia prepares for another parliamentary vote, with the conduct of the electoral process remaining an important issue in the country’s broader European integration process.
