Closing the Digital Gap on Elections in EU Accession

The EU acquis defines the EU's digitalization agenda and includes acts like the Digital Services Act, Artificial Intelligence Act, the European Media Freedom Act, and Network and Information Service Directive. This body of legislation significantly impacts the organization and conduct of elections, including in countries aspiring to join the EU. These countries, often facing resource constraints, must navigate approximation with the acquis while also addressing pressing challenges, such as foreign interference in elections and the need to effectively oversee online campaigning. The frontline experience of enlargement countries can provide valuable lessons for the EU itself.

In this context, the project aims to build closer ties between electoral management bodies, policy makers and civil society organizations from EU accession countries, and the EU institutions. Its objectives are twofold. First, to map candidate countries' progress in aligning with the EU acquis by assessing their legislation, institutional frameworks, enforcement capacities, experiences, and challenges related to digital threats to elections. These insights, generated through a combination of in-house and field research, will serve as valuable input for national and EU-level discussions.

Secondly, the project seeks to foster exchange and collaboration between EU institutions and enlargement country stakeholders in charge of electoral processes. Boundary partners will engage in platforms to discuss the findings of the mapping studies and share experiences related to holding elections amidst foreign interference and other challenges in overseeing digital campaigning. Policy dialogues will be organized in Albania, and Moldova. Additionally, peer-to-peer exchanges will take place in Brussels, where electoral authorities, legislators, and civil society representatives from enlargement countries will meet EU institutions. These exchanges aim to advocate for the inclusion of enlargement countries’ needs and experiences in EU policymaking, as well as in ongoing initiatives and coordination mechanisms, such as the European cooperation network on elections and European Democracy Shield.

Main Objective of the Project  

This project aims to advance credible and well-managed elections in EU enlargement countries by encouraging effective approximation to the existing EU digital acquis. It also seeks to empower oversight agencies from enlargement countries to provide input in the shaping of new EU legislation, policies and initiatives that address digital threats to elections within and outside the EU. Moreover, the project aspires to create a supportive environment for dialogue between EU institutions and accession countries, facilitating closer alignment in regulatory and enforcement efforts to uphold the EU digital acquis and greater integrity of electoral processes.

Outcome Objectives  

Electoral stakeholders from EU enlargement countries utilise their increased knowledge on the EU Digital acquis and the state of approximation in their respective countries to push for further alignment and more sustained engagement with EU peers.  

Through exposure to input from EU enlargement countries on their experiences with digital threats to elections and expectations from the EU accession process, EU policymakers recognize and consider the needs and lessons of the accession countries to create a more cohesive EU digital acquis within and outside EU borders.  

The project is a key element in complementing the Institute’s broader work in the field of Democracy and Digitalization, particularly in the EU and enlargement countries.

This page will be updated throughout the project period, providing details on project implementation, activities and milestones.