Organisational structure of the OSCE PA

National parliaments of OSCE countries are represented in the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly (PA) by MPs. The Assembly meets several times a year for meetings and activities. 

PA committees 

The Parliamentary Assembly has three general committees:  

  • Committee on Political Affairs and Security 
  • Committee on Economic Affairs, Science, Technology and Environment 
  • Committee on Democracy, Human Rights and Humanitarian Questions 

Once a year, each committee elects a chairperson, a vice-chairperson and a rapporteur. 

The rapporteurs report on the discussions and proposals of their committees at plenary meetings. 

In addition to the general committees, there are also three temporary committees. These deal with issues to which the PA wants to devote extra attention: migration, counter-terrorism and support for Ukraine. 

Bureau  

The Bureau oversees the PA’s daily operations. It consists of a president, nine vice-presidents and a treasurer. The chairs, vice-chairs and rapporteurs of the three general committees are also part of the Bureau, as is the president emeritus (the immediate predecessor of the current president). The Bureau implements the decisions made by the Standing Committee. 

Standing Committee  

The Standing Committee consists of the national delegation leaders and Bureau members. It is responsible for approving the PA’s budget and directing its activities. 

Special Representatives 

The president of the Assembly may appoint a Special Representative for issues or regions that require particular attention. For instance, there are Special Representatives for Central Asia, South East Europe, youth engagement and the fight against organised crime. They monitor developments, liaise with relevant networks and report to the Assembly.  

Secretariat and ambassador  

The Secretariat of the OSCE PA is located in Copenhagen. The Assembly has its own ambassador at the OSCE headquarters in Vienna.