12^th European Conference of Electoral Management Bodies (EMB)

“Egmont”, Place du Petit Sablon, 8bis, B-1000 Brussels

Tuesday, 31 March 2015

Norms regarding media neutrality during electoral campaigns

“When we talk about media neutrality, we usually think of the voters’ right to be comprehensively informed during electoral campaigns. It is a necessary condition for voters to make an informed and thoughtful electoral choice”, stated Jos Wienen (Netherlands, EPP/CCE), moderating the workshop on Norms regarding media neutrality during electoral campaigns, at the 12^th European Conference of Electoral Management Bodies (EMB) on 31 March 2015 in Brussels. “But media neutrality is also important for parties to communicate about their programmes and priorities and to provide an arena in which candidates can debate”. Focusing on the preservation of freedom of expression as an underlying principle, the participants discussed the different facettes to the notion of "media neutrality' and regulation depending on the type of the media; the issue of ethics in journalism as well as the issue of ownership of the media and the way this could influence fair electoral campaigns.

On 30 March, Andreas Kiefer moderated the 2nd Plenary Session "Functioning of Electoral Management Bodies - good practice"  and presented the activities of the Congress in the field of election observation. The participants discussed in particular on the questions : what are the body in charge of organising elections in a specific country - within which legal framework? What are the responsibilities of Electoral Management Bodies, how are they constituted and which roles and functions are attributed to the different members of EMBs? and which technology are used by the Electoral Managment Bodies?