WRITTEN QUESTION E-2784/03 by Cristiana Muscardini (UEN), Antonio Mussa (UEN)and Adriana Poli Bortone (UEN) to the Commission. Elections in Albania.
Date: 2003-09-17
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Albania, OSCE, election monitoring, local election, organisation of elections

8.4.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 88 E/115

The Commission does not get involved in cases of a consular nature, nor take position, unless in the
context of an Union démarche previously agreed with the Member States.

The Commission would therefore suggest that the Honourable Member might wish to raise the matter
with the Dutch Government in the first place.

The Commission will continue to follow the case in co-operation with the diplomatic missions of the
Member States in Thailand.

(2004/C 88 E/0121)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2784/03

by Cristiana Muscardini (UEN), Antonio Mussa (UEN)
and Adriana Poli Bortone (UEN) to the Commission

(17 September 2003)

Subject: Elections in Albania

The people of Albania are to elect new members of the National Assembly 10 October 2003. The OSCE,
in an attempt to make the election process more transparent and devise an effective reform, has explicitly
requested that the national electoral committee should reflect the political situation in the country and be
composed of members of the current majority and opposition, in equal proportions (3 + 3).

Can the Commission say:

1. whether it is aware that the electoral committee now consists of five members of the present socialist

majority and only two members of the democratic opposition;

2. whether it does not consider that the present composition of the electoral committee is unjust and

may arouse serious suspicions of partiality;

3. whether it does not consider it appropriate at this point to set up a body to monitor all the operations

involved in the election to be held on 10 October?

Answer given by Mr Patten on behalf of the Commission

(27 October 2003)

Local elections in Albania took place on 12 October 2003.

The Commission has been following closely the preparation and conduct of these elections. According to
the preliminary conclusions of the International Election Observation Mission (IEOM), these elections
marked further progress towards compliance with OSCE, Council of Europe and other international
standards for democratic elections. However, shortcomings in a number of areas were identified and
remain to be addressed, particularly in relation to voters’ lists which continues to be a problem area as well
as to a number of organisational issues.

The Commission has been aware of the claims by the opposition regarding the composition and political
balance of the Central Electoral Commission. However, the IEOM indicates in its preliminary conclusions
that, despite strong controversy over alleged lack of political balance, the Central Electoral Commission has
administered the elections in a generally professional, transparent and even-handed manner.

The IEOM, the Commission and other actors on the ground will continue to monitor the follow up of the
elections, with particular attention to the completion of the counting, to the tabulation process, to the
publication of results and to the handling of complaints and appeals. The Commission will also encourage
Albania to address the shortcomings identified during these elections well ahead of the next Parliamentary
elections.