OSCE: EU Reply to the Co-ordinator of OSCE Economic and Environmental Activities
Finnish Presidency of the Council of the European Union
Permanent Council No. 629
19 October 2006
EU Reply to the Co-ordinator of OSCE Economic and Environmental Activities
The European Union thanks the Co-ordinator of OSCE Economic and Environmental Activities, Mr. Bernard Snoy for his informative report on the priority areas and activities of the OCEEA.
The EU recalls the importance of strengthening the OSCE Economic and Environmental Dimension, making full use of the Organization’s comprehensive approach to security, in order to promote stability and respond to threats and challenges to security caused by economic and environmental factors. In this vein, the EU reiterates its support to the full implementation of the 2003 Maastricht Strategy and the Sofia Ministerial Council Decision (10/2004) on “Improving the Efficiency and Effectiveness of the Economic Forum”.
We share the Co-ordinator’s remarks concerning his general approach to the OCEEA’s activities, namely his emphasis on ensuring continuity of activities and achieving meaningful follow-up activities after each Economic and Environmental Forum, while at the same time focusing on areas where the OSCE has added value and avoiding duplication with other actors. The EU considers it important to ensure that programmes and projects carried out within the Economic and Environmental Dimension are consistent with the security objectives of the OSCE and commensurate with the available expertise and financial resources of the OCEEA.
The EU is looking forward to participating actively in the discussions of the Economic and Environmental Sub-Committee on the Draft Ministerial Council Decision on the Future Transport Dialogue in the OSCE (CIO.GAL/171/06). The vital importance of secure transportation networks and of transport development to the enhancement of regional economic cooperation and stability in the OSCE region were highlighted in the 14th Economic Forum. As stated in the Prague Forum in May 2006, the EU shares the view that the key contribution of the OSCE lies in facilitating dialogue which aims at raising awareness and creating political will to overcome obstacles in the development of transport activities.
The EU would like to thank the Belgium chairmanship and the Co-ordinator for organizing and leading, in agreement with the UN General Assembly, a team of international experts to assess the environmental impact of fires in and around Nagorno Karabakh. The EU would also like to thank the Belgian Chairmanship, supported by the mission to Georgia and the Co-ordinator, for their work on the economic rehabilitation of South Ossetia, Georgia as a follow-up to the recommendations of the Needs Assessment Study. The EU fully supports these efforts which underline the relevance of the second dimension for conflict prevention and confidence building.
We greatly appreciate that environmental security and sustainable development have been chosen as the focus of the 15th Economic and Environmental Forum. We value highly that the Co-ordinator and his Office work closely with the incoming Spanish Chairmanship towards preparing the Forum and the Preparatory Conferences. We are looking forward to the discussions at the Preparatory Conference in Bishkek in November 2006.
The Acceding Countries Bulgaria and Romania, the Candidate Countries Turkey, Croatia* and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia*, as well as the Countries of the Stabilisation and Association Process and potential candidates Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, and Serbia.
* Croatia and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia continue to be part of the Stabilisation and Association Process