PACE Conference on "The Parliamentary Dimension of Election Observation:
Applying Common Standards"

Strasbourg, 12.02.2007 – A Conference on "The Parliamentary Dimension of
Election Observation: Applying Common Standards", organised by the
Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), will take place
in Strasbourg on 15 and 16 February 2007.

This conference, which will bring together 200 participants, including
parliamentarians and other key actors in election observation, seeks to
strengthen the parliamentary pillar of election observation and
facilitate the application of common standards. Representatives of
institutions in charge of international election observation missions
such as the OSCE, European Parliament, United Nations, Organisation of
American States and CIS Inter-parliamentary Assembly, as well as US
think tanks such as the Carter Center and National Democratic Institute,
are among the participants.

PACE President René van der Linden will deliver an opening speech on
15 February at 10h00, followed by statements by João Soares,
Vice-President of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, Elmar Brok,
Co-Chairperson of the European Parliament Election Coordination Group,
Danièle Smadja, Director of the European Commission Multilateral
Relations and Human Rights Department, and Halvdan Skard, President of
the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe.

The working sessions will be structured around four main subjects:
"International Standards for Free Elections: The Basis for an Objective
Assessment", "Interparliamentary experience in election observation",
"Election Administration and Election Observation" and "Election
observation: the need for a better synergy".

Conference webpage
< 3D/Conferences/conferences_e.htm>

Draft programme
< 2007Elections/Programme_EN.pdf>

Provisional list of participants
< es/2007Elections/ParticipList.pdf>

The Conference is open to the press.

Contact: PACE Communication Unit
tel. +33 3 88 41 31 93; Fax +33 3 90 21 41 34; pace.com@coe.int

Press Release
Parliamentary Assembly Communication Unit
Ref: 093a07
Tel: +33 3 88 41 31 93
Fax :+33 3 90 21 41 34
pace.com@coe.int
internet:

The Parliamentary Assembly brings together 315 members from the national
parliaments of the 46 member states.
President: René van der Linden (Netherlands, EPP/CD); Secretary
General of the Assembly: Mateo Sorinas.
Political Groups: SOC (Socialist Group); EPP/CD (Group of the European
People’s Party); ALDE (Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe);

EDG (European Democratic Group); UEL (Group of the Unified European
Left).