A more effective OSCE for today’s world

The world has been upended by the COVID-19 pandemic in a way few of us would have imagined just months ago.

I, like many of us, have been reflecting on the nature and impact of this security challenge and where we go from here.

This global health emergency in many ways is a classic transnational threat that requires a multilateral approach. I believe that the OSCE can help participating States in strengthening their collective resilience and tackle shared security challenges together.

The OSCE is ready to meet new challenges, and to seize new opportunities.

As the OSCE’s 57 participating States consider granting me a second three-year term as Secretary General this July, I have been reflecting on my first term and the Organization’s achievements since 2017.

In my first address to the Permanent Council as Secretary General, I pledged to focus on three key areas: supporting results-oriented dialogue; strengthening and leveraging partnerships; and ensuring that the OSCE is fit for purpose.

Significant progress has been made in all of these areas, strengthening the OSCE’s capacities and capabilities as States deal with the unprecedented impact of COVID-19.

Dialogue to rebuild trust

The OSCE’s platform for inclusive dialogue was precisely created to rebuild trust, overcome divisions and reduce tensions to increase security for all participating States. As Secretary General, I have supported dialogue among the States in the decision-making bodies, in the Structured Dialogue process, and in OSCE conferences. I have offered informal spaces where States can explore shared challenges and opportunities together, including in co-operation with independent think tank initiatives.

Going forward, an informal platform I am currently developing is Tech4Peace, which aims to build trust and foster co-operation among States on the use of new technologies to tackle transnational security challenges. Technology will of course play a big role in strengthening our resilience against future pandemics.

I have also supported enhanced OSCE mediation efforts to help find peaceful resolutions to the conflict in eastern Ukraine, to the protracted conflicts in the South Caucasus, and to the Transdniestrian settlement process. While these conflicts are far from resolved, sides have taken action to improve the lives of civilians and to reduce the overall level of tensions. I hope we will see further progress and that the pandemic can serve as a turning point.

Partnerships to pool resources and experience

In strengthening and leveraging partnerships, I have worked to enhance co-operation with both our Asian and Mediterranean Partner States. With the Union for the Mediterranean, for example, we are fostering inter-regional co-operation, including through a joint initiative to map the impact of climate change – another major security challenge - on Euro-Mediterranean security.

Our partnership with the United Nations has significantly deepened through enhanced practical co-operation. As a result, the OSCE is aligning its priorities more closely with UN global goals, including on conflict prevention and resolution, countering terrorism, and Women, Peace and Security.

Looking ahead, I will continue to strengthen mutually beneficial practical co-operation with partner organizations that share OSCE values and objectives.

The pandemic will strain national budgets but it should not diminish efforts towards a multilateral world order. Pooling resources and experience with partner organizations can help ensure multilateral solutions and offer good value for money.

Fit for purpose

I take my role as the OSCE’s Chief Administrative Officer very seriously. And this brings me to the third key area: ensuring that the Organization is fit for purpose.

My aim has been – and still is – to ensure that the OSCE remains agile and responsive to the needs of participating States despite shrinking resources and dramatic growth in demand for our work.

As a result of a thorough review of management and budget processes to increase the OSCE’s effectiveness and efficiency, we introduced numerous measures to better align resources with priorities, and to enhance our ability to deliver for the whole Organization.

Among these measures were utilizing technology to make the OSCE more efficient, secure and effective both in the field and in our own offices; integrating youth perspectives and increasing youth participation; and sharpening efforts to promote the OSCE and the impact of its work.

One of the achievements I am most proud of is the progress we have made toward gender parity. Since I launched a strategy on this last year, 51% of 35 appointments to international contracted posts across the OSCE were women, while 65% of 11 senior management appointments across the Organization were women. There is now equal representation of women and men in my own senior management team.

Not every initiative I supported in my first three years was successful – or at least not yet. For example, I supported efforts by participating States to reform our cumbersome budget process. Significant momentum has been built, and I hope that we will soon see consensus on introducing a bi-annual budget.

Looking to the future

This brings me to my plans for a possible second term as OSCE Secretary General.

Working toward full gender parity and mainstreaming gender perspectives into policies, programmes and projects will remain a top priority. I will continue to build on efforts to create an organizational culture where women and men have equal opportunities to contribute and succeed. I aim to set the tone from the top.

I want us to assess how we can use technology to strengthen the OSCE’s capacities and advance its goals. Our dependence on technology to do our work during this period of social distancing and remote working only strengthens my opinion.

I am also committed to strengthening our monitoring and evaluation practices in the OSCE, while continuing to foster co-operation and collaboration within the Secretariat’s departments and units.

I remain just as eager and committed to working together with the Chairmanship, the Troika, and participating States for peace throughout the region; to strengthen and uphold OSCE principles and commitments; to foster genuine and open dialogue; to seek co-operative solutions to common challenges; and to ensure that the OSCE remains fit for purpose.

Having previously headed the Swiss delegation to the OSCE, I know that at times the workings of the Organization can seem different from different perspectives. Serving a broad constituency of 57 States in Europe, North America and Asia is no easy feat!

Nevertheless, in a second term as OSCE Secretary General I pledge to make sure that the Organization remains responsive to the needs of States in our post-COVID, increasingly complex and unpredictable security environment, while continuing to focus on making the OSCE more efficient and effective, more transparent and accountable, more inclusive, more integrated, and more collaborative.