European Union - Election observation missions2019-09-252019-09-252015-08-069158687777http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12424/224756Genuine elections are an essential foundation for sustainable development and a functioning democracy. Support to election processes has become a key component of the European Union’s external relations policy. It includes technical assistance to electoral authorities and to domestic non-partisan observers, as well as the deployment of EU Election Observation Missions. This Handbook focuses on the EU’s observation activities. EU Election Observation Missions serve to promote democracy and human rights in a spirit of co-operation with our partner countries. Deploying election observers is a way to support a democratic process and to assist partner countries in their objective to hold genuine elections. Observation missions have the ambitious task of observing and reporting on an election process, but also of enhancing the transparency of the process and the confidence of the voters. An observation mission can serve as a conflict prevention mechanism, providing an impartial assessment of the elections, defusing tension and by its very presence deterring fraud.Pages: 114engWith permission of the license/copyright holderelection observationhuman rightselectoral campaigndemocracyelectionGlobal ethicsPolitical ethicsBook chapter