Elections An ODIHR election monitor observes proceedings at a polling station in Kvemo Khartli during municipal elections in Georgia, 5 URDUR GUNNARSDOTTIR October. ers, the ODIHR supports national efforts to train observers. It also strongly encourages participating States’ efforts in this regard. In 2006, members of the ODIHR’s Election Department trained Austrian, German, Norwegian, and Russian observers to participate in future election missions. The ODIHR also cooperated with national training centres such as the German Centre for International Peace Operations, the Norwegian Centre for Human Rights, the Russian Diplomatic Academy, and the Austrian Study Center for Peace and Conflict Resolution, as well as with the European Commission’s Network of Europeans for Electoral and Democracy Support. These ad hoc training efforts complement the ODIHR’s extra-budgetary programme and contribute to strengthening consistency and common standards for election observation. 18 Annual Report  Future Priorities The ODIHR’s central election-related priority will remain the observation of elections in participating States, as well as providing them with considered recommendations to further improve election processes for democratic elections in line with OSCE commitments. Beyond this core activity, the ODIHR will focus on the following priority areas: Follow-up The ODIHR will continue to enhance its followup activities by encouraging co-operation with other organizations involved in observation, OSCE institutions, parliamentary bodies, and domestic actors. As stated in its report Common Responsibility: Commitments and Implementation, the ODIHR has been advocating for regular progress reports to the OSCE Permanent Council on the implementation of election-related recommendations. Greater involvement of the Per-