EU Statement in response to the Presentations by the Chairs of the Three Committees

The European Union thanks the Chairs of the three Committees for their presentations and for their activity throughout the year. We appreciate the collaborative approach among the Committees, based on joint commitments and principles, and promoting the OSCE’s comprehensive concept of security. We therefore welcome this week’s joint meeting of the Security and Economic and Environmental Committees, which allowed comprehensive discussions on addressing the risks to critical infrastructure, and on defining effective responses to ensure its security.

We appreciate the interactive discussions during Committees’ meetings, and the inclusive approach, with the involvement of stakeholders from civil society, academia, field operations, private sector, as well as other International Organisations.

We underline that discussions in the Committees should contribute to identifying gaps in terms of implementation, as well as policy recommendations and good examples.

We commend the Chairs’ commitment to focus the work of the Committees on the multi-faceted impact of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, with representative from Ukraine providing first-hand input. 

We congratulate Ambassador Neil Holland and his dedicated team on their commendable work with the Security Committee. We attach great importance to the Security Committee as a platform for discussing non-military security issues and advancing OSCE commitments related to transnational threats, including border security, critical infrastructure, organised crime, cyber threats, information manipulation and interference, and roles of state and non-state actors therein.

Ambassador Melita Župevc, we sincerely thank you and your team for your leadership in chairing the Economic and Environmental Committee this year. We welcome the focus of the Environmental Committee on topics such as water-food-energy nexus, sustainable economic growth, water management, supply chain resilience, smart and resilient cities, and connectivity. We stress the importance of linking these topics to stability and security, recognising their relevance to the OSCE as a platform for comprehensive discussions on security.  We particularly appreciated your efforts in organising the thematic meeting on environmental and maritime security, which allowed discussions on one of the most concerning emerging trends, namely the rise of Russia’s so-called “shadow fleet”.

Ambassador Olsson Vrang, we express our heartfelt gratitude to you and your team for your leadership in chairing the Human Dimension Committee. We commend the broad selection of topics, including human rights defenders, democratic elections, freedom of peaceful assembly, media freedom and the safety of journalists, prevention and combatting of violence against women and girls, and tolerance and non-discrimination. We appreciate that the Human Dimension Committee offered a platform for ODIHR to present its interim report on reported violations of international humanitarian law and international human rights law in Ukraine, as well as the participation of a broad range of civil society representatives who have provided important input to the Committee’s discussions.

In conclusion, the European Union thanks once again the Chairs of the three Committees for their dedication and their leadership. We will continue to offer our full support to ensure the continued effectiveness of the OSCE’s vital work. Together, we must remain resolute in upholding the principles and commitments that form the foundation of our shared security and cooperation.

Albania, Andorra, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Montenegro, North Macedonia, San Marino and Ukraine align themselves with this statement.