The President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE PA), Hon. Christine Muttonen, discussed future cooperation with the Parliamentary Assembly of the Mediterranean during a meeting with the PAM Secretary General, Amb. Sergio Piazzi, held at the Secretariat in Malta on 4 April 2017. Hon. Muttonen was accompanied by the OSCE PA Secretary General, H.E. Roberto Montella.
The OSCE PA President was briefed on the programme of activities of PAM with particular reference to the latest event organised in conjunction with the United Nations in Rome, dedicated to the implementation of UNSC Resolutions on Counter Terrorism and Foreign Terrorist Fighters.
Security issues, with particular emphasis on the role of parliaments in relation to Climate Change and Food Security, were also discussed. In this regard, migration from the Sahel region also featured during the exchange of views, since the environmental related migratory flows from this area are considered to have a critical and long term impact on Europe and the Mediterranean.
The situation in the Middle East was highlighted during the meeting and appreciation was expressed for the work conducted by PAM in relation to intercultural and interfaith dialogue as a key component of parliamentary diplomacy to address violent extremism and radicalisation.
OSCE PA and PAM also agreed to organise common elections observation missions where requested, in order to further strengthen the democratic mechanisms of citizen representation.
Furthermore, the two parliamentary institutions will work together on the parliamentary dimension of the MedCOP 2017, in order to better support all initiatives aimed at contributing to the implementation of the Paris Agreement.
Earlier in the day, a high-level delegation of parliamentarians from Austria and Germany visited the PAM Headquarters in order to familiarise themselves with the activities of the Assembly and its role in the Mediterranean. //
