News and press releases
News and press releases from the OSCE's global activities.
OSCE PA Annual Session closes in Birmingham with re-election of President Cederfelt and other leaders chosen for coming year
Publishing date: 6 July 2022
BIRMINGHAM, 6 July 2022 – OSCE Parliamentary Assembly President Margareta Cederfelt (Sweden) was re-elected in Birmingham today along with Vice-Presidents and Committee Officers. The new Vice-Presidents include Irene Charalambides (Cyprus), Rt. Hon. Mark Pritchard (United Kingdom), Pere Joan Pons (Spain), and Michael Georg Link (Germany).
Countering risks of human trafficking amid refugee flow focus of visit to Moldova by OSCE Parliamentary Assembly President and Special Representative
Publishing date: 22 April 2022
CHISINAU, 23 April 2022 – Countering the risks of human trafficking amid the humanitarian crisis caused by attack on Ukraine was at the centre of a two-day visit to Moldova by the President of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, Margareta Cederfelt (Sweden), and the Special Representative and Co-ordinator for Combating Trafficking in Human Beings, Valiant Richey.
OSCE parliamentarians to observe elections in Serbia
Publishing date: 24 March 2022
COPENHAGEN, 24 March 2022 – Some 80 observers from the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly will deploy next week to Serbia to observe the 3 April Presidential and early Parliamentary Elections.
Parliamentarians debate ways to increase OSCE’s support for peace in Ukraine
Publishing date: 24 March 2022
COPENHAGEN, 23 March 2022 – Parliamentarians, the OSCE and international partners must do everything in their power to support peace and security in Ukraine, participants said at an online meeting today organized by the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly. Held as part of the OSCE PA’s Call for Action – Helsinki +50 initiative and moderated by OSCE PA High-Level Expert Lamberto Zannier, the meeting focused on the role of the OSCE in addressing the war in Ukraine and its consequences, and featured the participation of high-level OSCE officials and dozens of OSCE parliamentarians.
The Reinforced Meeting of the OSCE Permanent Council at the Ministerial Level
Publishing date: 24 February 2022
VIENNA, 24 FEBRUARY 2022 – To address Russia’s military operation in Ukraine, the Polish OSCE Chairmanship convened a reinforced meeting of the Permanent Council at the ministerial level.
OSCE parliamentarians condemn Russian military action in Ukraine, call for de-escalation at Vienna Winter Meeting
Publishing date: 24 February 2022
VIENNA, 24 February 2022 – Referring to the Russian military operation in Ukraine as “indefensible” and a “gross violation of international law,” OSCE parliamentarians gathered in the hybrid Winter Meeting urged an immediate end to the hostilities and a return to diplomacy. Some 28 parliamentarians took the floor in an open debate, with most expressing clear opposition to the incursion and deep concern for the lives of civilians in Ukraine.
Joint statement by OSCE Chairman-in-Office Rau, Secretary General Schmid, OSCE Parliamentary Assembly President Cederfelt and Secretary General Montella on Russia’s recognition of certain areas of Ukraine’s Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts as independent
Publishing date: 21 February 2022
WARSAW/VIENNA, 21 February 2022 – The OSCE Chairman-in-Office and Foreign Minister of Poland, Zbigniew Rau, OSCE Secretary General Schmid, OSCE Parliamentary Assembly President Margareta Cederfelt (MP, Sweden) and OSCE Parliamentary Assembly Secretary General Roberto Montella strongly condemned the decision by Russia to recognize certain areas of Ukraine’s Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts as independent and made the following statement: