Role of the UK Delegation to the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly

The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe is a regional intergovernmental organizational with responsibility for early warning, conflict prevention, crisis management and post-conflict rehabilitation in its area. It has 18 field offices in South-Eastern Europe, Eastern Europe, South Caucasus and Central Asia Permanent Council.  It was established by the 1990 Paris Summit.

The Organization deals with three dimensions of security - the politico-military, the economic and environmental, and the human dimension. It therefore addresses a wide range of security-related concerns, including arms control, confidence- and security-building measures, human rights, national minorities, democratisation, policing strategies, counter-terrorism and economic and environmental activities. All 57 participating States enjoy equal status, and decisions are taken by consensus on a politically, but not legally binding basis.

The Parliamentary Assembly works through several structures; the plenary meetings, committees covering the three dimensions of security of the OSCE, election monitoring missions to member states, and various ad hoc mechanisms.

The UK Delegation participates fully in the activities of the Assembly, contributes to debates in the plenary and in committees, amends resolutions and plays an active role in election monitoring activities.