In a joint debate on election observation missions, during its 50th session, the Congress considered reports on local elections in Estonia, North Macedonia, San Marino and Kosovo*.
In a recommendation on local elections in Estonia (19 October 2025), based on a report by Jana Fischerova (Czechia, ECR) and James Moloney (Ireland, ILDG), the Congress noted that the elections were competitive, well-organised and showed a high-level of commitment to local democracy, and that the electoral system offered extensive opportunities for voters, starting at 16 years old. At the same time, the Congress pointed out that the timing of the constitutional amendments, adopted in March 2025, affected the stability of the legal framework, the campaign finance framework had shortcomings and internet voting remained vulnerable to disinformation. The Congress invited the Estonian authorities, among others, not to amend the local elections' legal framework within a year of elections, introduce comprehensive campaign donation and expenditure limits and clarify the involvement of third parties, pursue voter education initiatives on internet voting to build trust in the system, reinforce media literacy and introduce a 40 % gender quota on candidate lists to facilitate the participation of women and youth.
In a recommendation on local elections in North Macedonia (19 October 2025), based on a report by Gobnait Ní Mhuimhneacáin (Ireland, ILDG), the Congress noted that the election day was overall orderly, calm and generally well-organised, the campaign was competitive and pluralist, and women were well-represented as candidates, but there were significant challenges to establish an accurate voter register and rules of campaigning were poorly enforced, while harassment and intimidation limited women's full participation. The Congress invited the North Macedonian authorities, among others, not to adopt frequent amendments to the Electoral Code, urgently audit the voter register and update the registration system, strengthen regulations and oversight of campaigning activities and campaign finance, and adopt measures to address gender-based discrimination and harassment.
In a recommendation on local elections in San Marino (23 November 2025), based on a report by Christa Carpelan (Finland, EPP/CCE) and Sean O'Brien (Ireland, ILDG), the Congress noted that the elections were calm and well organised, with the high level of trust in electoral processes expressed by both citizens and candidates, and that the campaign was peaceful but rather low-profile, with limited competitiveness and with the low participation of women, young people and persons with disabilities as candidates. The Congress invited the authorities of San Marino, among others, to promote the active participation of all citizens as candidates - notably women, young people and voters with disabilities - and adopt measures promoting gender balance, including introducing a 40% gender quota in local elections, as well as to allow updates of the voter register closer to election day, strengthen campaign finance provisions and increase campaign duration.
Presenting an information report on local elections in Kosovo* (12 October 2025), Belinda Gottardi (Italy, SOC/G/PD) stated that the Congress delegation found the elections to be calm and competitive, procedures well-managed and the overall atmosphere peaceful. However, the delegation stressed several areas for improvement related to depoliticisation of constitutionally independent institutions; women, youth and non-majority communities' representation; accessibility of polling stations; and stronger safeguards against misuse of public resources. Out-of-country voting rules for local elections could also be reviewed, and more could also be done to foster social cohesion, including on the use of languages and the prevention of hate speech online.
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* This designation is without prejudice to positions on status, and is in line with UNSCR 1244 and the ICJ Opinion on the Kosovo Declaration of Independence.
