Delegation of Parliamentary Assembly of Bosnia and Herzegovina to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE)
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Čović, Dragan
Chair
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Muslić, Albin
First deputy Chair
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Kovačević, Radovan
Second deputy Chair
| CHAIR: | Čović, Dragan |
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| FIRST DEPUTY CHAIR: | Muslić, Albin |
| SECOND DEPUTY CHAIR: | Kovačević, Radovan |
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Parliamentary Assembly of Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE)
The Parliamentary Assembly of the OSCE (PA OSCE) is the parliamentary dimension of the OSCE, which was established as a forum for East-West dialogue during the Cold War. The Parliamentary Assembly was established by the 1990 Paris Summit primarily to promote involvement of the OSCE national parliaments in its work and has evolved over time into very active and valued member of the OSCE family. Its primary task is to facilitate inter-parliamentary dialogue, an important aspect of the overall effort to meet the challenges of democracy throughout the OSCE area. The activities and objectives of the PA OSCE are listed in the preamble of the Rules of Procedure, and some of the key ones include: analysis of the implementation of the objectives of the OSCE in the member states; discussion of topics from the meetings of the Council of Ministers, the summit of heads of states and governments of the OSCE; development and promotion of conflict prevention and resolution mechanisms; support for strengthening and consolidation of democratic institutions in member states; contribution to the development of the institutional structure of the OSCE, as well as relations and cooperation between OSCE institutions.
Parliamentary Assembly of the OSCE has 323 members from 57 countries. Members have received their mandates from their national parliaments and they meet at least three times a year in order to discuss issues that are important for OSCE activities and efforts. Members of the Assembly prepare declarations, statements and recommendations which are addressed to governments, assemblies and civil society regarding important issues related to promotion of human rights and fundamental freedoms, economic and ecologic cooperation and military and security issues. Three general committees work to address important current international issues for PA OSCE members which also discuss OSCE relevant topics in their respective parliaments.
The special importance of PA OSCE is reflected in the monitoring of elections, especially parliamentary ones, in the region where the OSCE is present. The PA OSCE leadership, with the consent of the country where the elections are organized, hires members of the parliaments of member states to participate in observation missions as expert observers. Also the PA OSCE organizes and conducts special missions in crisis areas.
Members of the Assembly also follow the manner in which the OSCE performs undertaken duties by participation at thematic seminars and conferences which the Assembly regularly organizes. These events between the Assembly sessions are dedicated to specific topic that the OSCE deals with, such as security, minorities, migrations, organized crime and corruption, terrorist threats, ecology and climate changes, gender equality etc. It also deals with regional issues including democracy building in Caucasian and Balkan region, OSCE Trans-Asian Dimension, as well as with Mediterranean and Arctic region. Furthermore, OSCE also organizes an economic conference every other year. All discussions in the framework of OSCE events provide the parliamentarians with possibilities to exchange views with colleagues and international experts and to deepen their understanding of OSCE issues within the wider context of the Organization principles and comprehensive concept of security.
The Assembly has regular formal and informal interaction with the other OSCE Institutions and it also maintains close co-operation with the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, the Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), the European Parliament and the Inter-parliamentary Assembly of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), the Parliamentary Assembly of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation (PABSEC), the NATO Parliamentary Assembly, all of which have observer status in the OSCE PA.
Bosnia and Herzegovina as an OSCE Member State is entitled to appointment of three members of the Parliamentary Assembly of Bosnia and Herzegovina as representatives in the Parliamentary assembly of OSCE.
Delegation of the Parliamentary Assembly of BiH in the Parliamentary Assembly of OSCE consists of three members who are concurrently assigned to PA OSCE Committees:
- General Committee on Political Affairs and Security
- General Committee on Economic Affairs, Science, Technology and Environment
- General Committee on Democracy, Human Rights and Humanitarian Questions.
The PA OSCE decision-making bodies include the Standing Committee of Heads of Delegations and the Bureau. Composed of the president, vice president, treasurer, officials from the three general committees and president emeritus, the Bureau is responsible for ensuring the implementation of the decisions of the Standing Committee. Decisions of the Bureau are taken by a two-thirds majority vote.
Permanent delegation of the PA BiH also greatly contributes to the OSCE work through active involvement in Election Observation Missions, both in the region and in other European countries.
Member States of the OSCE are: Albania, Andorra, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belgium, North Macedonia, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Montenegro, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Greece, Georgia, Netherlands, Croatia, Ireland, Iceland, Italy, Canada, Kazakhstan, Cyprus, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Hungary, Malta, Moldova, Monaco, Norway, Germany, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russian Federation, San Marino, United States of America, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, Serbia, Holy See, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom, Uzbekistan, Mongolia.
The official languages of the PA OSCE are: English, French, German, Italian, Russian and Spanish.