The 25th Ministerial Council of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) took place in Milan on 6-7 December 2018, hosted by the Italian Chairmanship, under the leadership of Foreign Minister Enzo Moavero Milanesi.
At the Council, delegates discussed a comprehensive range of security issues relevant to the OSCE region, which spans from Vancouver to Vladivostok, and includes 57 participating States, plus a consistent number of partners and observers.
While not all sessions could reach consensus, the conference addressed many strategic issues, namely Terrorism, the Western Balkans, Violence against women, the role of Youth, Trafficking of children, particularly unaccompanied minors and, of specific importance for PAM in view of its own future activities, Security and Migration, and Developments in the Mediterranean.
PAM participated in the event with a high-level delegation composed of President Hon. Pedro Roque, Secretary General Ambassador Sergio Piazzi and President Emeritus Sen. Francesco Amoruso. The PAM delegates followed actively the interventions of the ministers, as many of the issues discussed are relevant to the ongoing work of the Assembly and its three Standing Committees.
Additionally, the OSCE Council represented an excellent opportunity for PAM delegates to meet and discuss with many representatives from OSCE States and partners, and participating international and regional organizations, to strengthen cooperation.
In Milan, the OSCE Chairmanship was transferred from Italy to Slovakia, and Foreign Minister Miroslav Lajčák will lead the organization in 2019. PAM delegates congratulated personally Minister Lajčák, as he and the Assembly have already enjoyed an excellent cooperation during his Presidency of the 72nd United Nations General Assembly.