The head of the EU Election Observation Mission (EU EOM) in Kosovo, Nathalie Loiseau, Member of the European Parliament, officially opened the mission today during a press conference in Pristina.
She announced that following President Vjosa Osmani’s invitation to the EU to observe the February 9 parliamentary elections, the mission will deploy 18 long-term election observers to cover all municipalities in Kosovo.
The mission’s nine-member core team began work earlier this month, arriving in Pristina on January 8.
“The 2025 parliamentary elections are an important moment for Kosovo and demonstrate the plurality of Kosovo’s political landscape. The presence of the EU Election Observation Mission on the ground is intended to contribute to a comprehensive, credible and transparent electoral process that allows voters in Kosovo to express their choice. This also underlines the EU’s continued support for Kosovo in further strengthening democratic governance,” Loiseau said, reports Klankosova.tv.
She said, among other things, that nine teams of long-term observers, working in pairs, men and women, will be deployed throughout Kosovo.
According to her, they will evaluate the election campaign and election preparations in all municipalities. She said long-term observers are important for the EU election observation mission to carry out a full and comprehensive assessment of the electoral process in line with the EU’s standard election observation methodology.
The long-term observers come from 18 countries, including EU member states, Norway and Switzerland. They are expected to be independent and impartial observers and meet local electoral officials, candidates and representatives of political parties, as well as representatives of civil society and local media.
Shortly before election day, the mission will be reinforced with 36 short-term observers, a delegation of members of the European Parliament and up to 36 diplomats accredited to Kosovo from EU member states, Canada, Norway and Switzerland to ensure coverage as much as possible Kosovo. The EU election observation mission will remain in Kosovo until the end of the electoral process.
What is EU EOM?
The EU election observation mission operates under a code of conduct that requires strict neutrality and non-interference. The Mission operates under a separate and different mandate from that of the European Commission and other EU institutions in Kosovo. The Mission operates in accordance with the Declaration of Principles on International Election Observation (English version).
The long-term observers will depart for the field on Sunday, January 19, at 10:00 a.m. from Mission headquarters in Pristina. Media representatives are welcome to report on the event.
The EU election observation mission will release preliminary results at a press conference two days after election day. /Klankosova.tv
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