FURIC 2025 | Innovating Election Observation: Bridging Regional Expertise & Global Practice

Описание: Open Plenary Panel of Day 2 at the FURIC 2025 conference

The panel "INNOVATING ELECTION OBSERVATION: BRIDGING REGIONAL EXPERTISE AND GLOBAL PRACTICE IN A HYBRID THREAT LANDSCAPE" is hosted by the German Marshall Fund (‪@GermanMarshallFund‬)

On the panel:
Martin Ängeby, Senior Advisor, Hybrid CoE (‪@hybridcoe5338‬)
Levan Natroshvili, Executive Director, International Society for Fair Elections and Democracy (ISFED) (‪@IISFED‬)
Mulle Musau, Regional Coordinator, East and Horn of Africa Elections, Observation Network (EHORN)
Iva Lazarova, Executive Director, Institute for Public Environment Development
Sergiu Panainte, Deputy Director, Black Sea Trust at German Marshall Fund of the United States (moderator)

On FURIC 2025:
In times of increasing digital interference and authoritarian influence on elections worldwide, FURIC 2025 examines how societies can safeguard transparency, accountability, and public trust in elections – the cornerstone of inclusive and informed democratic participation.

Building on recommendations from its previous editions, the conference will emphasize stronger synergies among all stakeholders to address challenges such as disinformation, transparency of digital campaigning, social media algorithms, foreign interference, and hybrid threats.

As the European Union positions itself as a global frontrunner in regulating AI, online political advertising, and data protection, there is an increasing need – both for citizens and for policymakers – to ensure the effective enforcement of these existing frameworks.

Citizen and international observers are called to adapt their approaches, refining methodologies for monitoring data-driven elections and applying advanced techniques.

The conference will also highlight the importance of robust follow-up frameworks for implementing election observation recommendations, frameworks that should be developed and supported collectively by policymakers, tech companies, election management bodies, and civil society.

FURIC 2025 is organised in cooperation with European Parliament’s Democracy Support and Election Coordination Group (DEG) and OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (OSCE/ODIHR), and supported by the Federal Foreign Office of the Federal Republic of Germany and the German Marshall Fund of the United States.