Pia Kauma addresses OSCE ambassadors in Vienna, 5 Sept. 2024 (Photo: OSCE/Jason Borg)VIENNA, 5 September 2024 – OSCE Parliamentary Assembly President Pia Kauma (Finland) addressed the Permanent Council this morning and met bilaterally with several Heads of Missions of OSCE participating States in Vienna yesterday. In her remarks, she expressed support for the Maltese OSCE Chairpersonship in addressing various issues on the OSCE agenda, in particular in finding an appropriate solution for the appointments of the new Heads of the OSCE Institutions.
Kauma stressed that the OSCE cannot meet expectations without the necessary financial, human, and political resources and assured the ambassadors of the Parliamentary Assembly’s support in advancing comprehensive security across all dimensions by advocating for the OSCE’s needs in the member parliaments.
In this regard, she underlined the need to reach consensus on a budget that enables the OSCE to carry out its mandate, as well as on the incoming, post-2025 Chairpersonships, to allow for the proper functioning of the OSCE Troika.
Kauma informed the Permanent Council on the work of the Parliamentary Assembly, in particular on the Annual Session held in Bucharest in July, where parliamentarians underscored the need to develop a culture of compliance and accountability through robust parliamentary advocacy, legislative action, and rigorous oversight.
“Our Bucharest Declaration expressed deep collective concern over the escalating trend of noncompliance with international rules, as evidenced by the Russian Federation’s ongoing aggression against Ukraine,” President Kauma said. “To uphold the OSCE’s promise, it is essential that all participating States strictly adhere to our shared commitments.”
Kauma also previewed the incoming Autumn Meeting in Dublin in October, as well as other activities of OSCE parliamentarians. She focused on upcoming election observation missions and other areas of focus for the Assembly, noting in particular its work on the South Caucasus, South East Europe and Central Asia, as well as migration, combating corruption and countering terrorism.
Natasha Meli Daudey, Permanent Representative of Malta to the OSCE, and Pia Kauma, President of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, Vienna, 5 September 2024Several delegations of the OSCE participating States took the floor to respond to President Kauma’s statement, appreciating the Parliamentary Assembly’s support and contribution to comprehensive security in the OSCE area. The PA’s continued focus on Ukraine was particularly welcomed by several respondents, including Ukraine’s representative.
During her stay in Vienna, the President held a number of bilateral meetings with OSCE Permanent Representatives, underlining the PA’s readiness to engage with and support the governmental side of the OSCE, in particular in the interregnum before the appointment of the new Heads of Institutions, acting as “one team OSCE” and preserving the functionality and effectiveness of the Organization.
To watch President Kauma’s address to the Permanent Council, please click here.
Download the speech in PDF format here.
