COPENHAGEN, 18 June 2013 (FRE | RUS | TR)—In the largest gathering of international parliamentarians before this year's COP19 climate conference, the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly will consider a resolution calling for binding limits on greenhouse gas emissions and new fees to make short-term stock speculation more expensive.

The resolution as drafted looks to reverse Europe's austerity measures, saying that spending cuts have "not had the anticipated positive impact on the overall economic recovery."

"We need economic policies that strengthen social cohesion not continued spending cuts that drive us apart," said Doris Barnett (Germany), rapporteur of the economic affairs, science technology and environment committee and author of the resolution. "We need to spend some money to grow our economy."

On the environment, the measure calls for states to act at November's COP19 meeting in Warsaw to address climate change with binding limits on greenhouse gas emissions.

"Energy issues can and should be one of the uniting forces across our region," said Roza Aknazarova (Kyrgyzstan), committee chair. "This resolution says what our citizens expect: we need real action on issues so vital to the health of our planet."

The measure urges governments to co-operate to protect water supply as a prerequisite for economic and social progress; focuses on cities to increase mass transit investments to address climate change and protect quality of life; and recommends states tax stock trading, particularly high-frequency trading, to make short term speculation more expensive.

The resolution is being considered for inclusion in the Assembly's Istanbul Declaration, which helps shape OSCE and national policy. Parliamentarians will vote on the resolution and declaration at the OSCE PA's Annual Session in Istanbul. The Annual Session, including committee debates and votes, are open to the press and public. The session runs 29 June through 3 July.

The OSCE Parliamentary Assembly is comprised of 323 parliamentarians from 57 countries spanning, Europe, Central Asia and North America. The Assembly provides a forum for parliamentary diplomacy, monitors elections, and strengthens international cooperation to uphold commitments on political, security, economic, environmental and human rights issues.