Secretariat - Office of the Co-ordinator of OSCE Economic and Environmental Activities

Activities

Collaboration with partners

The ENVSEC Initiative - an "Environment Agenda for Security and Co-operation in south-eastern Europe and Central Asia"
The ENVSEC Initiative - an "Environment Agenda for Security and Co-operation in south-eastern Europe and Central Asia"

One of the closest partners of the OSCE is the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE), host of the Secretariat of the Convention on the Protection and Use of Transboundary Watercourses and International Lakes. Both the OSCE and the UNECE have jointly recognized the importance of economic development and the role of the environment in the context of conflict prevention.

In the area of the economic and environmental dimension of security, the OSCE and the UNECE have developed a close working relationship. This fact was reflected in the OSCE Strategy Document for the Economic and Environmental Dimension, adopted in 2003, which identified the UNECE as the key partner in its implementation. The memorandum of understanding which both organizations signed at the Sofia Ministerial meeting in 2004 further promotes collaboration between them.

Many joint OSCE and UNECE activities in the field of the environment are focused on the development and implementation of water-related projects and activities, in particular shared use and protection of water resources. These projects support the principles of the UNECE Convention on the Protection and Use of Transboundary Watercourses and International Lakes.

The OSCE co-operates with several organisations within the Environment and Security Initiative (ENVSEC). ENVSEC seeks to facilitate a process whereby key public decision-makers in South Eastern and Eastern Europe, Central Asia and the Caucasus are able to motivate action to advance and protect peace and the environment at the same time.

ENVSEC was established in 2003 by the OSCE, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). The North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) became an associate member of the Initiative in 2004, through its Public Diplomacy Division. Since 2006 the UNECE and the Regional Environment Centre for Central and Eastern Europe (REC) have become members of the Initiative. Several OSCE water-related projects have been conducted under the ENVSEC framework.

Particularly important for OSCE project implementation have been national and international non-governmental organisations. NGOs have played an important role in a number of issues on the project, such as engaging water basin users, lobbying for legislation, and developing regulation on public participation in water decision-making.