This was the first meeting of the OSCE PA Working Group, consisting of members of the OSCE PA Bureau, heads of national delegations and signatories of the Helsinki +50 initiative. The OSCE Helsinki +50 Parliamentary Assembly initiative aims to strengthen efficiency, encourage activity and increase the OSCE’s political influence, and its signatories are former and current heads of OSCE institutions.

Lamberto Zannier, former OSCE Secretary General and High Commissioner on National Minorities, presented the Helsinki +50 initiative, stressing that the Working Group should identify key issues and ideas for raising the OSCE profile before the 50th anniversary of the Helsinki Final Act in 2025.

The ensuing discussion highlighted the need to enhance dialogue, set clearer OSCE objectives and fully implement commitments, emphasizing the concept of comprehensive security, increased transparency, continued engagement of civil society and so on. The parliamentarians called for streamlining and redirecting OSCE activities to address key challenges in areas where the Organization has deep expertise and comparative advantage.