Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights - Elections

In the framework of election observation, on the basis of OSCE/ODIHR methodology, the OSCE/ODIHR co-operates with a number of international parliamentary and other bodies in the OSCE region.

These are the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly (OSCE PA), as well as, in most instances, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), the European Parliament (EP) and on occasion - the North Atlantic Treaty Organization Parliamentary Assembly (NATO PA) and/or the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of Europe.

OSCE Parliamentary Assembly

The OSCE/ODIHR and the OSCE PA enjoy a specific co-operation in the area of election observation, based on a Co-operation Agreement signed by the OSCE Chairman-in-Office and the President of the OSCE PA in 1997.

While the OSCE/ODIHR is responsible for the long-term election observation missions, incorporating all aspects of the election process, it joins efforts with the OSCE PA during the short-term election day observation where the OSCE PA is present. On the basis of the Co-operation Agreement, the OSCE Chairman-in-Office regularly designates a political figure as a special co-ordinator to lead the short-term OSCE observer mission.