OSCE, Alm.del - 2011-12 - Bilag 32: OSCE PA's årlige session i Monaco: Rraktik og procedurer

1. Recognizing that governments are carrying out painful policies to curb soaring publicdeficits and counter the effects of the European sovereign-debt crisis,2. Disturbed by the impact of credit rating agencies on the formulation of economic andfinancial policies, and welcoming the reforms discussed in the European Parliament toreduce reliance on agency ratings, and eliminate conflicts of interest that could influencethem,3. Noting that governmental responses to the economic crisis have often bypassed politicaldebate and reduced the overall effectiveness of parliamentary oversight in OSCEparticipating States,4. Concerned that important economic policy decisions are being made within some OSCEparticipating States by technocrats without meaningful input from the people most directlyaffected or their elected representatives in parliament,5. Concerned by the negative effects of the austerity policies implemented across the OSCEregion, in particular cuts targeting healthcare and education budgets, and observinggrowing evidence of a stagnant growth scenario,6. Acknowledging that the Institute of International Finance (IIF) underlined that austerity is“excessive when carried out across the board,” and encouraged governments to movebeyond strict fiscal discipline to “avoid the risk of an austerity overload” on the worldeconomy,7. Noting with concern the most recent EU data which indicates that unemployment in theEurozone has reached an all-time high, and emphasizing that excessive levels ofunemployment restrains the long-run growth potential of the economy,8. Recognizing that those bearing the cost of economic failure often tend to be the mostvulnerable members of society, including women, the young and the elderly, peoplebelonging to national minorities, and migrants,9. Alarmed by mounting social unrest across the OSCE region and recalling once more theinterrelationship between economic hardship and political extremism, nationalism, andxenophobia,10. Mindful that several international organizations, most notably the United Nations and theOrganization for Economic Co-operation and Development, have underlined that theeconomic crisis presents an opportunity to encourage greater green investments as a wayto sustain the recovery,11. Noting that training policies have a major role to play within the global framework ofrealizing green growth and achieving the economic recovery, and aware that the economic1

crisis has triggered changes in the global demand for skills, whereby knowledge-basedindustries entail increasing levels of education,12. Stressing that governmental support is essential to drive innovation, foster scientific co-operation, and generate new economic solutions to support growth in the OSCE region,13. Welcoming the discussions on “Fostering Economic Co-operation and Stability in theOSCE Region” held during the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly’s Economic Conference inBatumi,14. Supporting the role of the OSCE Co-ordinator for Economic and Environmental Activitiesin promoting deeper economic co-operation between participating States, therebycontributing to achieve peace, prosperity and stability in the OSCE area,15. Welcoming the decision to hold an Economic and Environmental DimensionImplementation Meeting on an annual basis, with the aim to improve the implementationof OSCE commitments and the effectiveness of its work in the economic andenvironmental dimensions,The OSCE Parliamentary Assembly:16. Calls on parliamentarians of OSCE participating States to play a greater role in overseeingand debating the economic policies implemented by governments across the OSCE region;17. Supports a reform of the credit rating system to encourage greater transparency and reducethe possibility for financial speculation;18. Encourages parliamentarians of OSCE participating States to discuss ways to decrease thefrequency of short-term market trading through the implementation of a Tobin tax;19. Encourages governments of OSCE participating States to carefully analyze the long-termeffects of austerity-driven budget cuts, in particular with regards to healthcare andeducation budgets;20. Emphasizes that the opportunity cost of stagnant growth and high unemployment has anegative impact on the solvency of social funds, reduces the possibility of carrying outstrategic investments, and undermines the future prosperity of the OSCE region;21. Recommends that the OSCE offers itself as a leading international organization to fostereconomic co-operation and encourage synergies among participating States, andencourages once more governments to consider the economic and environmental area ofthe OSCE’s work as one of the most promising from the standpoint of their long-terminterests;22. Calls upon the Ukrainian Chairmanship of the OSCE in 2013 and the Office of the OSCEEconomic and Environmental Co-ordinator to highlight alternative solutions to tackle theeconomic crisis in the OSCE area at the Twenty-first Annual OSCE Economic andEnvironmental Forum and its preparatory conferences in 2013;

23. Supports the work of the United Nations and the Organization for Economic Co-operationand Development to raise awareness among policymakers about the economic opportunityof green growth;24. Encourages increased investment in the green economy, the development of energy-savingtechnologies, and renewable sources of energy, as well as the incorporation ofenvironmentally-friendly methods of economic activity to assist the post-crisis economicrecovery;25. Underlines that education and training policies are essential to combat unemployment,positively adapt the workforce of participating States, and retain a competitive edge intomorrow’s economy;26. Calls upon the parliaments of OSCE participating States to debate measures favouringgreater labour mobility.