OSCE and European Union have growing partnership

VIENNA, 23 November 2000 - The relationship that exists between the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe and the European Union is making a real difference to the everyday lives of many people across the European continent. This was the message delivered today by Mr. Christopher Patten, EU Commissioner on External Relations, in his address to the OSCE Permanent Council in Vienna.

"Our people and your people work alongside each other every day, sometimes in conditions of danger, often in harsh and difficult environments," Patten told the delegations of 55 OSCE participating States. "Let me place on record our admiration for the tireless work carried out by OSCE field missions, staffed by dedicated personnel, who are right at the front-line in promoting democracy, human rights and the rule of law. Europe owes them a great deal."

During his address, Mr. Patten noted that both organizations have been working increasingly closely together in recent years, particularly in the Balkans.

"We are both servants in the same cause - that of a secure, democratic, peaceful and prosperous Europe," he said.

He noted that the past decade presented a formidable challenge in meeting new threats to security and co-operation in Europe, and the greatest challenge has been in South-Eastern Europe. "For too long we failed to halt the violence, but we never gave up; we never lost faith with that part of our continent," he said. "Today, we have greater ground for optimism in South-Eastern Europe than we have had for a generation."

Patten commended the OSCE's work in the areas of elections, democratization, human rights and rule of law. He also described some recent European Commission achievements, including the new European Agency for Reconstruction; assistance to stabilise Montenegro (FRY), encouraging trade and opening up markets to exports, the Energy for Democracy and Schools for Democracy initiatives, and most recently mobilising an emergency programme to assist Serbia (FRY) during the upcoming winter.

He said the EU continues to co-operate closely with the Russian Federation through the EU Partnership and Co-operation Agreement and the Tacis Assistance Programme. "However, Chechnya remains a great concern for us," Patten said. "We continue to be gravely preoccupied with the general situation on the ground; allegations of human rights violaqtions continue, and have failed to find a satisfactory response."

He also noted the EU concerns relating to elections, independent media and trade unions in Belarus; readiness to offer practical assistance with the complex Transdniestrian issue and helping Moldova develop a peaceful stable situation. Other issues addressed included political reform in Ukraine, the so-called frozen conflicts in the Caucasus, and security risks in Central Asia.

This was the first time a Member of the European Commission delivered an address to the OSCE Permanent Council.

The complete text of Mr. Patten's speech is available on the OSCE website at: //www.osce.org