The European Union has deployed an Election Assessment Team (EAT) to Afghanistan in relation to the 18 September 2010 parliamentary elections. The EAT consists of 7 experts based in Kabul since 4 September, and is due to maintain a presence in the country until the beginning of November.
The EAT objective is to provide a continuous assessment against international standards and principles for democratic elections on the electoral process, as well as to provide targeted recommendations for possible improvements to the electoral framework and to the conduct of electoral operations. The recommendations will be shared with the Government of Afghanistan, the Independent Electoral Commission and other relevant stakeholders.
The EAT is a more targeted exercise than an Election Observation mission. The EAT does not expect to issue any preliminary statement after Election Day. A final report presenting the EAT findings, conclusions and recommendations will be presented to the EU institutions and to the authorities of Afghanistan several weeks after the completion of the electoral process.
The EAT operates independently under its specific mandate.
The purpose of an EAT is to demonstrate European Union's commitment to support democracy around the world. It provides support for the development of the country's democratic institutions and procedures, and assists partner countries in their objective to hold elections of a high standard.
In this context, the EAT conducts continuous analysis and reporting on the ongoing electoral processes, during and after the elections, and provides an impartial and informed assessment of the electoral process.
The EAT consists of 7 experts focussing on electoral, legal, political, media, gender, human rights and minority issues deployed in Kabul for a period of 2 weeks prior to election day and five weeks after election day. The experts establish contacts and maintain working relations with the main stakeholders of the process, including the Independent Election Commission, the Electoral Complaints Commission, political forces and other election contestants, civil society organisations, and members of the international community.
The EAT assesses the entire electoral process (pre-election, election and post-election period) against international standards and principles for democratic elections and provides targeted, short, medium and long-term recommendations aimed at improving the electoral framework and conduct of electoral operations.
The EAT provides continuous analysis and reporting on the ongoing electoral processes to the EU Institutions and to the Member-States. The preliminary findings and recommendations will be shared with the local Electoral Management Body and other relevant stakeholders at different stages. Audience and outputs
The EAT produces periodic internal interim reports and spot reports, which are issued mainly to international and national institutions. A comprehensive final report, which will include a series of recommendations for improvements to the overall electoral process, will be issued to local electoral stakeholders. Assessment and Analysis
The Election Assessment Team assesses and analysis several aspects of the electoral process, including the constitutional and electoral framework, the role of the electoral management body, the registration of voters and candidates; media landscape and coverage, the political campaign, the preparations for election day, civil and political rights, civil society, gender and national minorities issues, voting, counting, tabulation and publication of results, as well as the complaints and appeals process.
The Election Assessment Team assesses and analysis several aspects of the electoral process, including the constitutional and electoral framework, the role of the electoral management body, the registration of voters and candidates; media landscape and coverage, the political campaign, the preparations for election day, civil and political rights, civil society, gender and national minorities issues, voting, counting, tabulation and publication of results, as well as the complaints and appeals process.