Sustainable economic recovery focus of OSCE Economic and Environmental meeting

VIENNA, 15 February 2022 – Supporting sustainable economic growth following the COVID-19 pandemic was the focus of the First Preparatory Meeting of the 30th OSCE Economic and Environmental Forum (EEF) held on 14 and 15 February in Vienna.

The meeting brought together government officials, the private sector, academia and civil society and provided a venue to engage in discussion on the OSCE’s role in support of achieving post-pandemic sustainable development and growth.

The discussions focused on supporting sustainable economic recovery and growth through the promotion of investment, entrepreneurship and business development; fostering good governance and anti-corruption measures; the promotion of transport and trade facilitation; the importance of human capital development for economic security, competitiveness, and inclusive growth in the post-pandemic era.

The Permanent Representative of Poland to the OSCE, Ambassador Adam Hałaciński, said:  “This Forum is not only the most important event of the Economic and Environmental Dimension, but also a meaningful opportunity to address the OSCE comprehensive approach to security and cooperation.”

The Economic and Environmental Forum enables political dialogue among the 57 OSCE participating States on key economic and environmental issues related to security. This year marks the Forum’s 30^th anniversary.

OSCE Secretary General Helga Maria Schmid said that the 30^th anniversary of the EEF is a milestone worthy of commemoration. “For three decades participating States have engaged with one another, with academia and the private sector at the EEF to address economic, social and environmental threats to security. I am sure this year will be no exception,” she said.

Schmid also emphasized the need to strengthen regional and global coalitions, to leverage technology, and to focus on human capital development as three key areas where the OSCE’s full potential could be used to advance post-pandemic sustainable growth and development.

The keynote address was delivered by Mariusz Jerzy Golecki, Deputy Minister at the Polish Ministry of Economic Development and Technology, who emphasized: “We believe that strengthening economic resilience will require not only greater global cooperation, but also regional levels, giving such organizations like OSCE an important role to be played in the field of sustainable growth, inclusive labour markets and equality between women and men.”

Mr. Grzegorz Słomkowski, Member of the Management Board of the Polish Investment and Trade Agency, and Ambassador Igli Hasani, Co-ordinator of OSCE Economic and Environmental Activities, provided concluding remarks and a comprehensive summary of the discussions during the two days of the meeting.

The First Preparatory Meeting of the 30th OSCE Economic and Environmental Forum was organized by the 2022 Polish OSCE Chairmanship and the Office of the Co-ordinator of OSCE Economic and Environmental Activities. This will be followed by a Second Preparatory Meeting in Łódź, Poland, on 23-24 May 2022.

The Concluding Meeting will take place in Prague on 8 and 9 September 2022.