frsrdg · GX04OSSE1 · 2010-03-22 00:00:00 — Recognising the important work done by the field missions in Central in assisting participating States in meeting their commitments, The Parliamentary Assembly: Undertakes to further promote regional co-operation through the participation of parliaments in Central in the activities of the ; Encourages participating States to co-operate with the relevant institutions, and other international organisations in the field of labour migration, ensuring respect for human rights in managing migration flows in the region; Encourages continued legislative reform and harmonisation in Central to ensure coordinated regional policies in this field; Supports the contribution the and other international organisations are making in helping national governments in the region to establish good border management practices; Calls on participating States to continue co-operation in the area of information exchange and policy co-ordination in the field of labour migration; Recommends that participating States work to improve the public image of labour migrants and the contributions they make to host societies, in the national media; Calls on participating States to actively combat trafficking in human beings in migration flows; Recommends that participating States continue regional legislative efforts to improve the free movement of people across national borders. Recognising mutual interdependence in the field of energy and the need for common actions enhancing security of energy supply and responding to potential crises, Emphasising the importance to energy security of diversification of energy supply sources, markets and transit routes, Underlining the importance of coping with the challenges related to climate change on a global level, Acknowledging that renewable energy is a key element in the supply of sustainable energy and has major implications for the fight against climate change and the reduction of carbon emissions, Stressing the need for common rules in the field of international energy cooperation, The Parliamentary Assembly: Emphasises the need for strengthening co-operation and balancing the interests of energy producers, consumers and transit countries with the aim of promoting market-based principles in the global energy dialogue; Underlines that international energy dialogue should be based on the principles of transparency, mutual confidence, reciprocity, non-discrimination and freedom of access to transit routes as provided in the ; Urges participating States to participate fully in the Transparency Initiative; Stresses the importance of developing new energy supply corridors with the aim of diversifying energy security sources thus enhancing competition in the area and increasing the reliability of energy supply and demand; Emphasises the need to develop liquefied natural gas technologies with the aim of moving towards an international gas market; Underlines that energy infrastructure projects should be implemented according to the requirements of the 1991 Espoo Convention on Environmental Impact Assessment in a Transboundary Context and other related international conventions, taking into consideration all environmental risks; Calls for an increase in the share in the energy mix of climate friendly energy, including nuclear energy, renewables and energy efficiency, with the aim of reducing global energy security risks, fighting climate change and diminishing dependency on depleting fossil fuels; Urges participating States to participate fully in the in , , in , with a view to establishing effective international standards which significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions; Stresses the necessity of sharing experience in the field of modern energy technologies and best practices in developing renewable energy and energy efficiency, including co-operation in research and development; Emphasises the importance of further development of peaceful nuclear energy in accordance with established international nuclear safety standards and in line with provisions of international conventions on nuclear safety, security, safeguards and verification. Reaffirming the 2008 Parliamentary Assembly Astana Declaration on the importance of energy efficiency, renewable energies and energy savings, Recalling that the Parliamentary Assembly in Astana called on participating States to commit themselves to a global energy transformation, Reaffirming the 2007 Parliamentary Assembly Kyiv Declaration, which stressed the need to further promote renewable energy sources, Recalling that the Parliamentary Assembly in Kyiv urged participating States, among other things, to develop measures aimed at increasing energy saving and efficiency in households, industry, transport and services, Reaffirming the 2006 Parliamentary Assembly Declaration which urged participating States to co-operation on energy, Recalling the special significance and the special potential of co-operation with civil society in the , Recalling that NGOs and other civil society stakeholders play a central role on the path to renewable energies, energy efficiency and energy savings, and that without an civil society a global energy transformation will not be possible, The Parliamentary Assembly: Calls upon participating States to create fora for the activities of independent civil society in the energy sector; Calls upon participating States to develop measures and initiatives, in cooperation with civil society, to inform and educate people about renewable energies, energy efficiency and energy saving; Recommends that the Co-ordinator of Economic and Environmental Activities and the field missions carry out activities which promote a change of culture in the towards a global energy transformation and which support the work carried out by civil society and the independent media in this area; Recommends that an conference be held, bringing together participating States and civil society stakeholders to assess progress and challenges on the path to an energy transformation and to compile best practices on the provision of information and education about renewable energies, energy efficiency and energy saving. Recognising that unless climate change is prevented it may lead to problems related to the rise of water levels, natural disasters, food production, water supply and migration, Noting that investment in renewable energy and in energy-efficient technology not only contributes to solving climate issues, but may also be a security gain since diversifying energy sources and decreasing dependence on fossil fuels contribute to energy security, Realising that climate change is a common security problem that requires global cooperation to be solved, 4.Recognising that the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) plays the leading role with respect to international climate change and taking note of the upcoming Fifteenth Conference of the Parties (COP) to UNFCCC to be held in in , The Parliamentary Assembly: 5.Stresses that the climate challenge should not be given a lower priority in a long-term perspective owing to the financial crisis than other challenges that may seem more urgent on a short-term basis; 6.Encourages rich countries, which so far have contributed the greatest proportion of CO2emissions, to accept the greater part of the responsibility and cover the expenses resulting from reducing emissions, both by reducing their own emissions and by contributing additional funding to developing countries as agreed at the COP 13 in ; 7.Urges countries experiencing great economic growth, which are likely to contribute to a great deal of total CO2 emissions in the future, to ensure that this growth takes place in a sustainable and climate-friendly ; 8.Calls on all participating States that have not yet signed the Kyoto Protocol to sign and ratify the protocol as soon as possible and to start engaging in the reduction of CO2 emissions before 2012; 9.Urges all participating States that have already signed the Kyoto Protocol to maintain their ambition and work to reach the agreed reductions of CO2 emissions before 2012; 10.Further calls on all countries and governments to work specifically to reach an ambitious international agreement on climate in at the COP 15, and callsfor the agreement to contain binding targets for the reduction of greenhouse gases in the short and long term to ensure that the global increase of temperature stays below 2˚Celsius. Recalling the damage caused by tax havens to the economies of participating States including: the loss of tax revenues due to fraud and tax evasion; the increased risk of destabilising the world financial system caused by flaws in regulation; the opportunities for financial crime, money laundering and the financing of terrorism, Welcoming the proposals on tax havens in the text adopted by Union Member States at and 20 2009 with a view to the G-20 Summit in , Noting with satisfaction the publication by () of a List of Unco-operative Tax Havens, Praising the declaration issued by the G-20 Summit in on 2April2009 concerning tax havens and unco-operative jurisdictions, The Parliamentary Assembly: Supports the measures recommended in the declaration issued by the G-20 in ; Underlines the need to strengthen co-operation between participating States and the international financial institutions on this question; Encourages improved co-operation between the , the Financial Action Task Force and the in order to avoid regulatory loopholes; Urges participating States to establish common criteria for defining an uncooperative jurisdiction; Recommends that participating States establish measures aimed at obtaining complete transparency in unco-operative jurisdictions and the eventual abolition of tax havens; Suggests that it be made compulsory to declare any financial transaction with an uncooperative jurisdiction; Recommends that the repatriation of assets and incomes from uncooperative jurisdictions be authorised, without penalty but without a tax amnesty; Suggests that a specific tax be introduced on transactions involving unco-operative jurisdictions. Reiterating the fundamental importance of the economic dimension of the OSCEs comprehensive approach to security, which acknowledges the relationship between economic growth and peace or stability, Recalling the Final Act of 1975, in which participating States expressed their intention to encourage with the non-participating States the development of mutually beneficial co-operation in the various fields of economic activity and to contribute to a diversified development of the economies of the non-participating countries, Recalling the Final Act, in which participating States recognised the importance of bilateral and multilateral intergovernmental and other agreements for the long-term development of trade and undertook to reduce or progressively eliminate all kinds of obstacles to the development of trade, Recalling the importance that the Parliamentary Assembly accords to the development of international trade, as underlined by the Assemblys seventh economic conference on the theme of The World Financial Crisis, held in , in 2009, Expressing support for the Declaration of 1995 regarding the of a free trade area between the Member States of Union and all States by 2010, Recalling the PAs 2008 Astana Declaration and the resolution it adopted on free trade, Concerned at the slow pace of economic development in the Middle East, especially in the agriculture sector and the knowledge-based economy, where two thirds of the population is under the age of 35, Further concerned about the impact of the current global financial crisis on the economies of the area, whereby commodity prices have fallen significantly, export demands have weakened, finances have been strained, and tourism to the region has declined, The Parliamentary Assembly: Asserts that the creation of a free trade area will, inter alia, contribute significantly to the efforts to achieve peace in the region; Expresses its support for Unions Union Initiative and the declaration of 2008 adopted at the Summit which set out, among others, such priorities as Alternative Energies and a Solar Plan, a , and the Business Development Initiative; Welcomes the initiatives of other participating States and their support for the promotion of free trade and investment in the area, including, as reported in the Astana Follow-Up Report, the , the American Middle East Free Trade Area Initiative (MEFTA) launched in 2003, recently concluded negotiations for a Free Trade Agreement with the Hashemite Kingdom of , and exploratory discussions with towards a possible Free Trade Agreement; Reiterates its recommendation contained in the 2008 Astana Declaration that a Economic Commission be established with the aim of quickly reducing trade barriers and facilitating the transition to a knowledge-based economy in the countries of the region; Also reiterates its recommendation contained in the 2008 Astana Declaration that a be established with the aim of creating jobs in the agriculture sector for young people in the region; Encourages participating States and Partner States for Co-operation to intensify their efforts under the Process in order to expedite the of a free-trade area among all countries. FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION ON THE INTERNET Affirming the fundamental human right, recognised in the and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, to freedom of expression, including the right to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas of all kinds, regardless of frontiers, through any media, Reaffirming the words agreed by participating States in the 1975 Final Act regarding the importance of the dissemination of information from the other participating States and the aim thereby undertaken to facilitate the freer and wider dissemination of information of all kinds and to encourage co-operation in the field of information and the exchange of information with other countries, Reaffirming the commitment made by the participating States in the 1989 Concluding Document that they would ensure that individuals can freely choose their sources of information and would take every opportunity offered by modern means of communication to increase the freer and wider dissemination of information of all kinds, Reaffirming the Charter for , adopted in in 1999, according to which participating States committed themselves to taking all necessary steps to ensure the basic conditions for unimpeded transborder and intra-State flow of information, Aware of the determination of repressive States to censor, block and surveil the free flow of information on the Internet, including information and communications originating in participating States, Further aware that information and communications technology companies have cooperated with repressive States in Internet censorship, blocking and surveillance by selling and servicing information and communications technology and know-how that enables repressive States to censor and block the Internet and transform it into a tool for surveillance, Further aware that information on Internet users provided to repressive States by information and communications technology companies has enabled repressive States to identify and persecute individuals for the peaceful expression of political, religious and ideological opinion and belief, The Parliamentary Assembly: Urges participating States to promote the right of every individual to freedom of opinion and expression, and the right to seek, receive, and impart information and ideas relating to political, religious, or ideological opinion or belief on the Internet, without interference and regardless of frontiers; Urges participating States to use appropriate policy instruments to promote values, principles and practices that promote the free flow of information and ideas relating to political, religious or ideological opinion or belief on the Internet; Calls on participating States to adopt measures to deter information and communications technology companies from directly and materially co-operating with repressive States in censoring, blocking or surveilling the free flow of information and ideas relating to political, religious or ideological opinion or belief on the Internet; Calls on participating States to communicate to repressive States, including participating States, their concerns about government actions aimed at censoring, blocking or surveilling the free flow of information and ideas relating to political, religious or ideological opinion or belief on the Internet; Requests that the Representative on Freedom of the Media monitor the policies and practices of participating States regarding the free flow of information and ideas relating to political, religious or ideological opinion or belief on the Internet, including Internet censorship, blocking and surveillance; Requests that the Chair-in-Office draw additional attention to the issue of Internet censorship, blocking and surveillance by convening a Supplementary Human Dimension Meeting or similar meeting focused on these and related issues. WATER MANAGEMENT IN THE AREA Reaffirming the OSCEs comprehensive approach to security that includes the politico-military, economic, environmental and human dimensions, Recalling the OSCEs role in encouraging sustainable environmental policies that promote peace and stability, specifically the 1975 Final Act, the 1990 Concluding Document of the CSCE Conference on Economic Co-operation in Europe (Document), the 1999 Charter for adopted at the Summit, the 2003 Strategy Document for the Economic and Environmental Dimension (Strategy), other relevant documents and decisions regarding environmental issues, and the outcome of all previous Economic and Environmental Fora, which have established a basis for the OSCEs work in the area of environment and security, Recognising that water is of vital importance to human life and that it is an element of the human right to life and dignity, Alarmed by the fact that almost one billion people in the world lack access to safe drinking water, and that two out of every five people live without basic sanitation services, contributing to more than 2million deaths every year, Recalling that the United Nations Millennium Development 7 (Ensure Environmental Sustainability), Target 3, calls on the nations of the world to work towards halving, by 2015, the proportion of the population without sustainable access to safe drinking water and basic sanitation, Noting the ongoing severity of water management issues and the scarcity of water resources faced by many States in the region, affected in particular by unregulated social and economic activities, including urban development, industry, and agriculture, and which continue to have an impact on human health, the environment, the sustainability of biodiversity and aquatic and land-based eco-systems, and affect political and socio-economic development, Concerned at the ongoing situation whereby certain areas and people in the panEuropean and North American region of the area lack access to safe drinking water and adequate sanitation, Recalling the OSCEs and Security adopted at the 2007 , which draws attention to water management as an environmental risk which may have a substantial impact on security in the region and which might be more effectively addressed within the framework of multilateral cooperation, Hailing the work of the Economic and in raising awareness of water management issues and promoting regional co-operation throughout the area, including in South-Eastern Europe, South Caucasus and Central , Hailing the achievements of the project on South Monitoring, which concluded in February 2009 after six years during which it introduced new parameters for water quality monitoring, harmonised sampling and testing methodologies, trained local staff and established data sharing systems accessible to all partners via the Internet in Armenia, and , Recalling the PAs 2008 Astana Declaration and the resolution it adopted on water management, Hailing the follow-up report on the 2008 Astana Declaration which highlighted initiatives undertaken by , , , , , and the of to improve water management practices, Hailing the numerous national and international reports and scientific studies on water management that generate knowledge and inform sound policy development, The Parliamentary Assembly: Calls on participating States to address the question of sustainable access to clean water and sanitation globally, in particular given that sustainable access to clean water and sanitation are effective deterrents to infectious diseases; Calls on participating States to undertake sound water management to support sustainable environmental policies and to apply the measures necessary to implement the 2007 and Security; Expresses support for the ongoing work and commitment of the Office of the Coordinator of Economic and Environmental Activities in raising awareness of water management challenges and promoting opportunities for participating States to exchange best practices, including its projects in , , , and ; Encourages the decision-making bodies of the to continue to set a direction on water management challenges and support the activities of the Office of the Coordinator of Economic and Environmental Activities and field presences that raise awareness of water management challenges in the area and identify environmentally sustainable solutions; Expresses support for the Environment and Security Initiative, which brings together the United Nations Development Programme, the United Nations Environmental Programme, the , , the United Nations Economic Commission in Europe, and , to assess environmental challenges, including those relating to water resource management, and to implement projects that raise awareness of these challenges, build capacities and strengthen institutions in order to address them; Encourages participating States to continue their work with other regional and international institutions and organisations with respect to water management solutions; Supports the of regional and crossborder cooperative activities between scientists and specialists who work to share technologies and best practices, develop countryspecific water strategies and expertise, mitigate shared water challenges, international co-operation and defuse cross-border tensions. EUROPEAN UNION SEAL PRODUCTS Reaffirming the OSCEs comprehensive approach to security, which includes the politico-military, economic, environmental and human dimensions, and which has been documented in, inter alia, the 1975 Final Act, the 1989 Document, the 1990 Document and the1992 Document, Reaffirming the importance of trade for economic growth, political stability and international peace, Recalling the commitments made by the participating States at the in regarding the liberalisation of trade and the elimination of barriers limiting market access, Recalling the importance that the Parliamentary Assembly accords to the development of international trade as underlined by the on the theme of Strengthening Stability and Co-operation through International Trade held in in 2007 and its concern for the social and humanitarian consequences of economic disruptions which leave many vulnerable populations with limited options for economic gain as raised at the on the theme of The World Financial Crisis held in , , in 2009,