International obligations and standards include not only the basic principles of the European electoral heritage (universal, equal, free, secret and direct suffrage, elections held in reasonable and foreseeable intervals) but also framework conditions for implementing these principles, such as 1) respect for fundamental rights, 2) regulatory levels and stability of electoral law, 3) procedural guarantees, including the organisation of elections by an independent and impartial body, observation of elections, and an effective system of appeal.