About OSCE PA

The Parliamentary Assembly of the OSCE is the parliamentary dimension of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, whose 56 participating States span the geographical area from Vancouver to Vladivostok.

The primary task of the 320 member Assembly is to facilitate inter-parliamentary dialogue, an important aspect of the overall effort to meet the challenges of democracy throughout the OSCE area.

Recognized as a regional arrangement under Chapter VIII of the United Nations Charter, the OSCE is a primary instrument for early warning, conflict prevention, crisis management and post-conflict rehabilitation in its area. The Parliamentary Assembly, originally established by the 1990 Paris Summit to promote greater involvement in the OSCE by national parliaments in the participating States, also pursues other important objectives which are stated in the preamble of the Assembly's Rules of Procedure:

• assess the implementation of OSCE objectives by participating States;
• discuss subjects addressed during meetings of the Ministerial Council and summit meetings of OSCE Heads of State or Government;
• develop and promote mechanisms for the prevention and resolution of conflicts;
• support the strengthening and consolidation of democratic institutions in OSCE participating States;
• contribute to the development of OSCE institutional structures and of relations and co-operation between existing OSCE institutions.

To pursue these objectives, the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly employs a variety of means: a Final Declaration and a number of resolutions and recommendations are adopted each year at the Annual Session

• committee work addresses important contemporary international issues;
• different programmes, including an extensive Election Observation Programme, and various seminars, have been designed to develop and strengthen democracy; and
• delegations are sent on special missions to areas of latent or active crisis.