OSCE PA Young Parliamentarians visit Stavanger to explore OSCE priorities in youth and energy security, 4 SeptemberSTAVANGER, 7 September 2024 – Members of the OSCE PA Network of Young Parliamentarians have concluded a visit to Stavanger, Norway, hosted by the Norwegian Parliament. The delegation, consisting of 18 parliamentarians from Armenia, Albania, Austria, Italy, Croatia, Cyprus, Luxembourg, North Macedonia, Poland, Slovakia, Turkey, Ukraine, and Norway, focused on key issues such as energy innovation, the green transition, youth participation, and the protection of critical infrastructure.
During their stay in Stavanger, the parliamentarians engaged with key stakeholders from the region, including representatives from Stavanger Municipality, Stavanger Chamber of Commerce, and major Norwegian energy and climate investment companies—Lyse Energy, Equinor, and Nysnø Climate Investments. The delegation also visited significant energy infrastructure sites, including the Flørli power station, the Martin Linge platform control room at the Equinor headquarters, the Norwegian Offshore Directorate, and also had a chance to visit the NATO Joint Warfare Centre.
“I am glad to welcome young representatives from the parliaments of Europe to the Energy Capital of Norway to discuss security policy, energy, and climate, and to share Norwegian experiences,” said Aleksander Stokkebø, Member of the Norwegian Parliament and Vice-Chair of the OSCE PA Network of Young Parliamentarians. “It was very important that our colleagues from Ukraine also joined the visit. This gave us the opportunity to hear more about the situation in their country and how we can assist them.”
The programme of the visit also included a meeting of the Network, which focused on the results of its work over the past year, the continuation of consultation workshops with youth under the “Youth Perspectives” project, and a presentation by the Maltese Chairpersonship of the OSCE on priorities in the fields of youth engagement, climate change, and energy security.
“Under Malta’s Chairpersonship of the OSCE this year, we have prioritized youth engagement and climate change. This meeting in Stavanger offers a valuable opportunity to underscore the crucial link between youth empowerment in decision-making and energy security,” emphasized Thomas Attard, Spokesperson of the Maltese Chairpersonship of the OSCE. “We believe the younger generation has significant potential to advance the energy transition, a key aspect of the OSCE’s comprehensive security approach—an approach tested by conflicts in the OSCE region, as starkly demonstrated by Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine."
The Young Parliamentarians' visit to Stavanger included meetings at Equinor HQ, Martin Linge platform control room, Sokkeldir, and NATO Joint Warfare CentreReflecting on the visit’s outcomes, OSCE PA Special Representative on Youth Engagement and Chair of the Network, David Stogmuller, emphasized that young parliamentarians are at the forefront of shaping the policies that will determine the future of our energy security and environmental sustainability.
“This visit to Stavanger, Norway, a hub of energy innovation, was a crucial opportunity to exchange ideas and collaborate on solutions that prioritize renewable energy, energy security, and the active involvement of youth in the decision-making process on these topics,” said Stogmuller. “We have a unique responsibility to champion the transition to greener energy sources, ensuring that the next generation inherits a world that is not only more secure but also more sustainable.”
Earlier this year, during the Bucharest Annual Session, the OSCE PA adopted a resolution on “Youth Perspectives on the Future of International Relations, Multilateralism, and Sustainable Development” that was drafted in the framework of “Youth Perspectives” initiative with direct input from young people across the OSCE area, in collaboration with young parliamentarians. The resolution in particular called for faster green transition and for meaningful engagement of young people in decision-making processes.
