Threats to peace

The EU’s electoral observation missions (EOMs) represent a central instrument of democracy support, which also promotes internal peace and stability. For more than two decades, the EU has sent EOMs to many regions of the world. The missions only take place on invitation from the country concerned, only after consultation with the European Parliament, and only in those countries where there are credible prospects of free and fair elections. Every EU election observation mission is headed by a chief observer from the European Parliament. There is documented evidence of the effectiveness of these missions in building trust among opposing groups in society, and therefore in preventing conflict. In some cases, EU EOM findings, revealing serious electoral shortcomings, have attracted the ire of the national government, such as in Venezuela, where the EU observed the local and regional elections in 2021. Venezuelan civil society however considers that the implementation of EU recommendations is critical for a return to a free and fair electoral path.