Strengthening the Economic and Environmental Dimension: UK Statement to the OSCE
Ambassador Neil Holland stresses the importance of the Economic and Environmental Dimension of the OSCE as part of its comprehensive approach to security.
Thank you, Mr Chair.
The Second Dimension is vital to the OSCE’s comprehensive security approach. It addresses some of the most pressing challenges to our shared security and prosperity, including climate change, biodiversity loss, serious and organised crime, illicit finance, and the growing issue of irregular migration. This is particularly important given the devastating economic and environmental impact of Russia’s war of aggression on Ukraine.
The OSCE is uniquely positioned to assist participating States in tackling these complex issues. To do so we need to fully leverage the tools at our disposal — especially those that support good governance by promoting transparency, combatting illicit finance, and reducing corruption. Our Foreign Secretary’s campaign on illicit finance is a key example of the UK’s efforts to combat corruption and strengthen national security.
The UK values the OSCE’s role in addressing security-related environmental concerns, such as water management, energy security, and the impacts of climate change. We are proud to support the OSCE project on strengthening responses to security risks from climate change in Central Asia. We acknowledge the particular vulnerabilities of Central Asian states to climate change and its consequences. To address these challenges, we are funding a regional programme to enhance resilience through regional water and energy cooperation for low-carbon, climate-resilient growth.
As Chair of the Security Committee, the UK is prioritising key areas that intersect with the Second Dimension – particularly the financial underpinnings of organised crime which we will deal with in July’s meeting. These crimes cause both direct and indirect harm to our citizens, eroding social cohesion, undermining democratic norms, exacerbating climate change, and impeding economic development. They contribute to instability and conflict and also disproportionately affect women and girls, which is one of the many reasons why the UK supports the OSCE’s emphasis on Women’s economic empowerment.
April’s Security Committee meeting focused on the security threats associated with irregular migration, recommending that the OSCE work together with other international organisations, including through field presences, to support States in countering the smuggling of migrants and other challenges. It is clear that the OSCE can and should be doing more on migrant smuggling. We will follow up on this in September when we mark the 20-year anniversary of the Border Security and Management Concept. Later this year, with our Slovenian colleagues, we will also host a joint session of the Security, and Environmental and Economic Committees on protecting critical infrastructure.
We will continue to support a strong and effective Second Dimension, including through the EEF cycle. As we approach the Helsinki discussions on organisational functionality a good place to start would be to fulfil the requirements set out by Ministers on holding mandated conferences according to the timetable laid out by them.
Thank you Mr Chair.