FURIC 2025 | Enhancing the Impact of Election Observation: Towards a Coordinated Follow-Up Framework

Описание: The closing panel on Day one of FURIC2025 will explore strategies for building coherent frameworks to implement election observation recommendations that strengthen accountability in digital campaigns, enhance transparency in political finance, and ensure responsible use of algorithms and AI. Similar challenges arise across European, regional, and global contexts, highlighting the need for synergies over fragmented solutions. At the supra-national level, the draft resolution on political finance under consideration at the Conference of the States Parties (CoSP) to the UNCAC reflects efforts to address these issues globally. The discussion will also examine practical models of cooperation among observers, election administrations, international organizations, and major digital platforms to improve follow-up.

On the panel:
Nacho Sánchez Amor, Member of the European Parliament, Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats (S&D)
Olga Aivazovska, Head of the Board, Civil Network OPORA (‪@CivilNetworkOPORA‬ )
Jorge Valladares, Research and Policy Expert, Political Integrity, Transparency International (‪@TransparencyIntl‬)
Neal MacCall, Head of the Democracy and Electoral Division, European External Action Service (EEAS) (moderator)

About FURIC2025:
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.

Find more information on our website at epde.org/furic