Secretariat

The OSCE's involvement in economic and environmental activities stems from the fact that promoting economic prosperity and co-operating on environmental problems can enhance international security and stability. This became of vital importance after the collapse of communism and the demise of the Soviet Union and Yugoslavia, when these and other states in South-Eastern and Eastern Europe, the Caucasus and Central Asia embarked on a difficult period of economic transition. The transition process has been accompanied by the emergence of new threats to security, including deepening economic and social disparities, widespread poverty and high unemployment.

The OSCE promotes a continuous dialogue on the economic and environmental dimension through regular meetings of its permanent bodies in Vienna. In addition, economic and environmental officers operate on the ground in the OSCE field presences in South-Eastern Europe, Eastern Europe, the Caucasus and Central Asia. The annual Economic Forum in Prague is a high-level meeting that each year brings together more than 450 representatives of participating States, the business community, academia and civil society.