OSCE/ODIHR experts to assess European Parliament elections

WARSAW, 6 May 2009 - The OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) will assess the 4-7 June elections to the European Parliament by sending experts to 15 European Union member states.

A group of 22 experts, headed by Vadim Zhdanovich of Russia, will assess pan-European election matters in the selected member states, as well as relevant national legal frameworks, the work of election administrations and the conduct of the campaign. The experts will not observe election day proceedings.

The decision to send the expert group comes following invitations to observe the elections received by ODIHR from all 27 European Union member states.

The expert visits will start on 12 May and will cover the following countries: Austria, Czech Republic, Denmark, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Poland, Romania, Slovenia, Spain and Sweden.

The group will split up into teams of, on average, four experts, with each team visiting three countries ahead of the elections.

The experts' findings will be included in a report which will be published several weeks after election day.

More information on the expert visit and its methodology is available in the Exploratory Mission Report of 23 April 2009: Exploratory Mission Report in connection with elections to the European Parliament scheduled for 4-7 June