OSCE, Alm.del - 2022-23 (2. samling) - Bilag 43: Appointment of Special Representatives and Committee leadership

OSCEs Parlamentariske Forsamling 2022-23 (2. samling)
OSCE Alm.del Bilag 43
Offentligt

The President

To: Members of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly

5 September 2023

Dear Colleagues,

Dear Friends,

I would like to thank all Members and Delegations who have reached out to me since our

Annual Session. I greatly appreciate your commitment to dedicate time and energy on behalf of the

OSCE and our Parliamentary Assembly.

Immediately after our meeting in Vancouver, you will recall that I had announced my

intention to streamline the work of our Special Representatives. Following consultations held over

the course of the summer, I would like to inform you that I have made the following appointments:

•

Special Representative on Anti-Semitism, Racism and Intolerance: Mr. Ben Cardin (United

States)

Special Representative on the Arctic and the High North: Mr. Mark Pritchard (United

Kingdom)

Special Representative on Central Asia: Ms. Farah Karimi (Netherlands)

Special Representative on Climate Change: Mr. Pere Joan Pons (Spain)

Special Representative on Combating Organized Crime: Mr. Eugenio Zoffili (Italy)

Special Representative on Eastern Europe: Mr. Kristian Vigenin (Bulgaria)

Special Representative on Fighting Corruption: Ms. Irene Charalambides (Cyprus)

Special Representative on Gender Issues: Ms. Hedy Fry (Canada)

Special Representative on Human Trafficking Issues: Mr. Chris Smith (United States)

Special Representative on Mediterranean Affairs: Mr. Pascal Allizard (France)

Special Representative on Political Prisoners: Mr. Steve Cohen (United States)

Special Representative on the South Caucasus: Ms. Kari Henriksen (Norway)

Special Representative on South East Europe: Mr. Kyriakos Hadjiyanni (Cyprus)

Special Representative on Youth Engagement: Ms. Monika Zajkova (North Macedonia)

Reading through this list, you will notice that, overall, the number of Special Representatives

has been reduced, with portfolios focusing on priority topics, both thematic and regional. I have asked

our Vice-Presidents to focus on one of these areas. Several portfolios in existence prior to the

Vancouver Annual Session have not been reestablished; their work will be embedded in our general

committees and our new Parliamentary Support Team for Ukraine. Within the constraints of the

composition of our Assembly’s membership and elected leadership, I have taken gender, political,

and geographical balance into account when making these appointments.

_________________

Tordenskjoldsgade 1, 1055 Copenhagen K., Denmark

Phone: +45 33 37 80 40 - Fax: +45 33 37 80 30 - [email protected] - www.oscepa.org

OSCE, Alm.del - 2022-23 (2. samling) - Bilag 43: Appointment of Special Representatives and Committee leadership - letter from OSCE PA President Kauma

The President

Reflecting on the limited time available, please note that in the future the agenda of our

statutory meetings will generally not include an item for Special Representatives. Instead, all Special

Representatives have been invited to actively participate in our debates to reflect on the issues

included in their portfolio.

Let me also use this opportunity to update you on the leadership of our various ad hoc

committees. I will formally chair the Parliamentary Support Team for Ukraine, which was established

during the Vancouver Annual Session, with Mr. Joe Wilson (United States) and Mr. Mykyta

Poturaiev (Ukraine) serving as Co-Chairs. In addition, please note that Ms. Daniela De Ridder

(Germany) will take over as Chair of the Ad Hoc Committee on Migration. Mr. Reinhold Lopatka

(Austria) will continue to lead the Ad Hoc Committee on Countering Terrorism, while Mr. Pascal

Allizard (France) carries on as Chair of the Sub-Committee on the Rules of Procedure.

Ad hoc committee members will be appointed in the coming weeks in line with the established

procedure and in coordination with the committee chairs, to ensure that the actual needs of the

committees, as well as gender, political, and geographical balances, are taken into account.

As I stated upon my election in Vancouver, my door is always open. I look forward to

continuing to exchange with each of you on the best way to make full use of your political energy

and your expertise within the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly.

Yours sincerely,

Pia Kauma

_________________

Tordenskjoldsgade 1, 1055 Copenhagen K., Denmark

Phone: +45 33 37 80 40 - Fax: +45 33 37 80 30 - [email protected] - www.oscepa.org