Election-Watch.EU (wahlbeobachtung.org)
Budget
€30,324
EP Access
0
accredited persons
Staff
10
1 FTE
EU Grants
None
Mission & Goals
Election-Watch.EU (wahlbeobachtung.org) is an independent, non-partisan civil society organisation with extended international and citizen-based election observation and electoral assistance expertise. The initiative aims at observing and assessing the European Elections and electoral processes in European countries. The process initiated in Austria focuses on international obligations and commitments as well as on best practices to strengthen democracy in Europe and European fundamental values. Through recommendations and advocacy, Election-Watch.EU contributes to the improvement of European and members states’ electoral systems and processes, and more broadly to the strengthening of democratic political practice. Election-Watch.EU provides information on the European election processes, international standards and best practices.
EU Legislative Interests
Electoral legislation Digitial Services Act Digital Market Act Artificial Intelligence Act Regulation of political advertising Freedom of Expression legislation Transparency and Targeting of Political Advertising Regulation mobile EU citizens Directive European political party funding
Communication Activities
Presentation of recommendations in the EP AFCO (Constitutional) Committee Presentation of recommendation to European Cooperation Network on Elections (ECNE) “Supporting Engagement in European Elections and Democratic Societies” (SEEEDS) project (Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values Programme; CERV funded) Meetings with Members of European Parliament, political parties, representatives of the European Commission, Council and other EU institutions Advocacy work, policy papers, etc. Input into political advertising: https://www.wahlbeobachtung.org/en/election-watch-eu-input-on-online-political-advertising-regulation-in-europe/ Input into data protection in political advertising: https://www.wahlbeobachtung.org/en/election-watch-eu-inivted-to-speak-on-data-protection-day/ Policy paper on AI in elections: https://www.wahlbeobachtung.org/en/policy-paper-on-ai-and-freedom-of-expression-in-elections/ 2019 Election Assessment Mission Report: https://www.wahlbeobachtung.org/en/european-parliament-elections-2019-election-watch-eu-eam-final-report-with-16-recommendations/ 2023 Organisation of High Level Event on enhancing integrity in European Elections at the EP: https://www.wahlbeobachtung.org/en/great-exchange-among-european-decision-makers-and-civil-society-on-ensuring-the-integrity-of-the-2024-european-elections/ 2023 First High Level Event on European Elections panel participation: https://www.wahlbeobachtung.org/en/first-high-level-event-on-european-elections/ 2023 Pre-Election Assessment Mission to the June 2024 EP elections: https://www.wahlbeobachtung.org/en/pre-election-assessment-mission-by-election-watch-eu-in-brussels/ 2024 Publication of Pre-Election Assessment Mission Report to the June 2024 EP elections: https://www.wahlbeobachtung.org/en/pre-election-assessment-mission-report-published/ 2024 Publication of the Election Assessment Mission Report to the June 2024 EP elections: https://www.wahlbeobachtung.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/election-watch.eu-eam-ep-elections-2024-final-report-300924.pdf 2024 Press Conference of the Election Assessment Mission Report to the June 2024 EP elections: https://www.wahlbeobachtung.org/en/preliminary-statement-of-the-election-assessment-mission-to-the-european-elections/ 2024 Publication of the Practitioners Paper on the EU AI Act impact on Elections: https://www.wahlbeobachtung.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/ai-and-elections-policy-paper-sept-2024-epd-ew-final.pdf 2025 CERV project grant agreement for FPA and SGA 2025 In July 2025, Election-Watch.EU met with the European Parliament Rapporteur on the 2018 European Electoral Act amendment to discuss legal recognition of citizen election observation, electoral integrity safeguards, and harmonisation of standards. 2025 On 6 June 2025, the European Commission’s report and staff working document on the 2024 European Parliament elections explicitly referred to Election-Watch.EU’s Election Assessment Mission, highlighting the role of citizen-led election observation in strengthening transparency and trust.
Interests Represented
Does not represent commercial interests
Member Of
EPD https://epd.eu/communityofpractice/election-watch-eu/ GNDEM https://gndem.org/members/ Declaration of Principles for International Observers: https://electionstandards.cartercenter.org/at-work/collaborative-efforts-towards-standards/endorsing-organizations/ Bündnis für Gemeinnützigkeit https://www.gemeinnuetzig.at/
Organisation Members
Political Accountability Foundation: https://odpowiedzialnapolityka.pl/ MEMO98 https://memo98.sk/ GONG https://gong.hr/en/ Expert Forum https://expertforum.ro/en/ White Gloves https://www.baltosiospirstines.lt/
Additional Information
EW has partnership agreements with EPD for the AHEAD Bangladesh and the WYDE projects. Part of the funding received in 2025 is spend on activities in 2026.
Commissioner Meetings
No recorded meetings with EU commissioners.