How to apply?
Two different approaches are open to former MEPs wishing to apply for EU Election Observation Missions.
The approach most likely to succeed is via your national Government. You will find the focal point list at the following address: Focal points.
Each Member State selects and proposes qualified national candidates for the positions of Long-Term (4 to 6 weeks) or Short-Term (8 to 15 days) Observers.
The European Commission remains in charge of final selection but continues to maintain its special agreement with Member States by giving priority to candidates presented by their Ministries.
The second option is to apply for EOM’s Core Team experts who are directly recruited by the Commission. These experts are recruited for a period from 3 to 4 months on the bases of a service contract. These positions are published on the EEAS website and require either previous experience in observation missions or special skills and knowledge.
In both cases, the applicant shall complete an electronic CV in the Roster (register) on the EEAS website.
The CV must be regularly updated in the Roster and the candidate has to submit an application for each call for observers (Long-term or Short-term Observer or Core team experts) published on the EEAS or on national governments’ website.
Attention, there are exceptions for some nationalities: Belgian, Estonian, French, German, Irish, Italian, Spanish and Swedish. You can consult the EEAS website on that subject.
Could you please inform the FMA, if in the past you have participated in EU election observation missions and inform us if you have had any problems during the selections process and also inform us if you intend to take part in such missions in the future.
For more information, you can read the Handbook for EU Election Observation and the Compendium for International Standards for elections.
The EODS
Election Observation and Democracy Support (EODS) is the capacity building project for EU Election Observation. It is funded by the European Commission and started in January 2013.
EODS has three main areas of support:
- strengthening the EU Election Observation Mission methodology
- training election observation specialists in EU methodology election principles
- sharing this methodology with regional organisations and networks
Election Observation and Democracy Support (EODS) follows the principles of the Declaration of Principles for International Election Observation Commemorated at the United Nations in October 2005.
The EODS project reflects the fact that the EU continues to develop and further consolidate its own methodology, to remain at the forefront of international observation.
Moreover, the EODS proposes training sessions for the observers.
You may find further information about EODS here.