12  : :  ELECTIONS Supporting Elections in the Western Balkans In 2018, ODIHR intensified its electoral support in the Western Balkans as part of a dedicated project to support authorities and civil society in addressing electoral recommendations. This three-year project, funded by the EU and Austrian Development Agency, focuses on election management bodies, voter lists and campaign media coverage. The project enabled ODIHR to enhance its activities in the region, and the impact has been significant. ODIHR has brought in high-level experts to support legal and technical changes and help create a constructive and inclusive environment for reform. This has already led to significant legal changes in Montenegro and, for example, inclusive and well-considered reform processes initiated in Albania and North Macedonia. ODIHR has also published an online database of electoral recommendations for the Western Balkans. The database – paragraph25.odihr.pl – provides a centralized and searchable collection of recommendations to support institutions and civil society across the region in their follow-up efforts, as well as to track the implementation status of recommendations. “ F rom its very beginning, ODIHR’s mandate has included not only the observation of elections, but also work with authorities, political parties and civil society to bring elections in line with OSCE commitments and other international obligations. This electoral recommendations database builds upon our Office’s support in following up on election-related recommendations, and will also serve as a useful co-ordination instrument for stakeholders working on electoral reform in the Western Balkans.” Ingibjörg Sólrún Gísladóttir, ODIHR Director Over the course of 2018, ODIHR published 54 election-related reports, including NAM and interim reports, statements of preliminary findings and conclusions, and final reports to offer constructive feedback and provide concrete recommendations to remedy shortcomings identified in the democratic process. Most reports were translated into the official languages of the states observed. The 16 final reports published included a total of 341 recommendations. FOLLOW-UP TO ELECTORAL ASSESSMENTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS The underlying goal of election observation is to assist participating States in implementing their election-related commitments and to improve their electoral practices. A core part of election observation, therefore, is the findings and recommendations offered in final reports. After an election, ODIHR regularly engages with participating States to follow-up on findings and recommendations through a range of activities. In 2018, ODIHR provided in-country technical expertise to representatives of state institutions, political parties and civil society in 18 participating States. During these activities, ODIHR advised on ways in which ODIHR electoral recommendations could be addressed. This included visits to Albania, Austria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Kyrgyzstan, North Macedonia, Malta, Moldova, Mongolia, Montenegro, Norway, Romania, Serbia, Turkey, Ukraine and Uzbekistan. ODIHR continued to provide legal opinions on draft electoral legislation in partnership with the Council of Europe’s