Gabriel Mato, Member of the European Parliament, is the Chief Observer of the EU Election Observation Mission (EU EOM). The mission deploys more than 100 observers from 25 EU Member States, as well as from Norway and Canada.

The mission is coordinated by a core team of 10 experts specialising in various electoral fields. It also deploys 38 long-term observers (LTOs), who are stationed across Ecuador from the start of the electoral campaign. In the days leading up to election day, an additional 40 short-term observers (STOs) join the mission, along with diplomats from European embassies, to strengthen observation during voting, counting, and the publication of results. The EU EOM is further reinforced by a delegation of 7 Members of the European Parliament.

The EU EOM will remain in the country until the completion of the electoral process.

The EU EOM conducts a comprehensive assessment of all aspects of the electoral process, including:

• The legal framework and its implementation;
• The political context, the election campaign, and the campaign finance;
• The work and the impartiality of the electoral administration;
• The voter registry and candidate registration;
• The contribution of civil society to the electoral process;
• The role of the media and social networks during the electoral campaign;
• The universal franchise afforded to voters, especially to women, youth, and vulnerable groups;
• The voting, counting, tabulation, and the announcement of results;
• The complaints and appeals processes, and the post-electoral environment.

The assessment is based on direct observation, as well as the collection of factual information and regular meetings with election officials, political parties, candidates, civil society, and media throughout the country.

The EU EOM will issue a Preliminary Statement at a press conference in Quito two days after the elections. This statement will be based on the observation of the entire process up to the voting.

The Final Report, containing the EOM's overall assessment of the electoral process and possible recommendations for the improvement of future electoral processes, will be made public during the Return Visit of the Chief Observer around two months after the EOM has left the country.

The EU EOM uses a robust and comprehensive methodology, which has been uniformly applied to more than 200 electoral processes observed by the EU in 75 countries.

The EU EOM operates in accordance with the ‘Declaration of Principles for International Election Observation’ endorsed under United Nations auspices in 2005.

The EU EOM methodology relies on the fundamental principles of independence, impartiality, non-interference, professionalism and long-term approach.

• The EU EOM is independent in its findings from the EU Delegation to Ecuador, EU member states, and EU institutions.
• All EU Observers are bound by a strict code of conduct that ensures their neutrality and impartiality.
• EU Observers do not interfere in the electoral process and have no mandate to change or correct any shortcomings.
• The EU EOM does not legitimise the electoral process, nor validate the election results.