During the evening of Tuesday 30 May, the European External Action Service (EEAS) announced that in response to an invitation from the president of Kosovo, the EU had deployed an election observation mission for the early parliamentary elections in Kosovo on 11 June 2017.
In its press release, the EEAS states the High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini had appointed Alojz Peterle MEP (EPP, Slovenia) as chief observer. "We expect all political parties, leaders and institutions of Kosovo to ensure that these important elections, including the election campaign, are conducted in line with European democratic standards", Mogherini stated. Following the municipal elections of 2013 and the parliamentary elections of 2014, this is the third time that the EU is deploying an election observation mission in Kosovo.
Deployment of the observation mission began on 16 May with a core team of seven people that will stay in the country until completion of the electoral process in order to conduct an overall assessment of the process. Starting on 26 May, the team will progressively be joined by 16 long-term observers throughout Kosovo, and 32 short-term observers will arrive for the election week of 7 June. A delegation from the European Parliament, and diplomats from the EU member states accredited to Kosovo, will reinforce the mission on election day. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)