Economic and environmental activities

The Office of the Co-ordinator supports participating States in promoting good economic governance through activities aimed at strengthening legal frameworks and building capacity to combat corruption, mitigate money laundering risks of virtual assets, as well as investigate, seize, manage and socially reuse stolen assets. It supports the public and private sectors, including civil society, in using digital technologies and open data for greater transparency and accountability, as well as promoting a positive business climate. It also actively involves youth in preventing corruption and criminal activity. 

The Office support the OSCE participating States in developing human capital through strengthening digital and entrepreneurial skills, with a particular focus on women and youth. It enhances capacity and regional co-operation through trade and transport facilitation and addresses socio-economic disparities through improved migration governance.

The Co-ordinator’s Office focuses on co-operation on environment-related security issues in a variety of areas. It supports projects and activities to ensure the sustainable management of natural resources within and between countries, particularly water; reduce risks of disasters; promote a clean and inclusive energy transition and the protection of critical energy infrastructure; address the challenges of climate change; and manage hazardous waste safely. It also works to raise environmental awareness, promote public participation in environmental decision-making and facilitate access to justice in environmental matters, particularly through the Aarhus Centres.

The promotion of gender equality is of central relevance in both the socio-economic and the environmental security sphere. The Co-ordinator’s Office supports gender equality initiatives in such varied areas as fostering water management or supporting the engagement of female entrepreneurs.

The Economic and Environmental Forum promotes political dialogue within the OSCE’s second dimension, focusing on economic and environmental security issues. It helps elaborate recommendations and follow-up activities to address related challenges. The Economic and Environmental Dimension Implementation is held once a year in Vienna, to review the implementation of the commitments undertaken by the OSCE participating States through various Ministerial Council decisions. It provides a framework to enhance dialogue and co-operation on key thematic areas within the second dimension.