EU to monitor Kosovo’s snap election

The European Union will deploy an Election Observation Mission (EOM) to Kosovo to observe the early parliamentary elections, scheduled for October 6. The European Union has a long history of accompanying electoral processes in Kosovo and has deployed EOMs on four previous occasions, the last two in 2017, which reflects the EU’s long-term commitment and partnership with Kosovo.

“Kosovo remains a political priority for the European Union and deploying an EOM for the upcoming early parliamentary elections confirms our continuing engagement and commitment to supporting Kosovo’s democratic processes,” said EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice President of the European Commission Federica Mogherini, who confirmed that the EOM would be led by Chief Observer Viola von Cramon-Taubadel.

“All stakeholders and communities should be able to engage in this process and have their say in Kosovo’s future,” added Ms Mogherini. “These elections come at an important juncture for Kosovo where it needs to move decisively to make progress on its European path, on reforms and on the normalisation of relations with Serbia.”

Chief Observer Viola von Cramon-Taubadel added: “I believe it is important for the EU to continue accompanying elections in Kosovo, which started in 2009. I am hopeful that our observation will provide an important contribution to these elections and, through its follow-up, to efforts to strengthen Kosovo’s electoral processes in the future. It is a great honour for me to lead this EOM and I have accepted this task with a great sense of responsibility.”

The snap election in Kosovo follows the resignation in July of the prime minister, Ramush Haradinaj. Mr Haradinaj, a former leader of the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA), resigned after being summonsed to face a special war crimes tribunal in The Hague.