In June 2017, ODIHR started a new project to support the follow-up of electoral recommendations in the Western Balkans. This three-year project supports election-management bodies and related institutions in the region in their efforts to follow up on election observation recommendations in areas related to election management, voter registration and the conduct of the media during election campaigns.
Within the framework of the project, ODIHR works closely with civil society organizations and providers of electoral assistance, as well as OSCE field operations. The project has a total budget of 1.6 million euros and is co-funded by the EU (1.4 million euros) and the Austrian Development Agency (200,000 euros).
ODIHR has a long history of efforts to support institutions in addressing electoral assessments and recommendations and, in 2016, published its Handbook on the Follow-up of Electoral Recommendations. All OSCE participating States have committed themselves to follow up on ODIHR electoral assessments and recommendations, while the EU has noted the need to support the follow-up of electoral recommendations and to strengthen the link with wider democratic reforms in the Western Balkans.
