On 30 June 2023, following a unanimous decision taken by the Standing Committee during the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly’s 30th Annual Session in Vancouver, Canada, the Assembly established the Parliamentary Support Team for Ukraine  to consolidate the OSCE PA's practical and political efforts in support of Ukraine in view of the war of aggression by the Russian Federation against Ukraine. The core objective of the Parliamentary Support Team for Ukraine is to ensure that the war remains at the forefront of the OSCE PA’s activities and that Ukraine’s needs are fully considered by the Assembly.

Under the leadership of the Chair, President Pia Kauma, and the Co-Chairs Mykyta Poturaiev and Joe Wilson, the key functions of the Support Team are:

• Promoting support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognized borders in OSCE bodies and throughout the OSCE region;
• Serving as a focal point for requests from the Ukrainian Delegation, and working to facilitate dissemination to appropriate bodies and Members within OSCE parliaments;
• Working closely with OSCE executive structures and relevant external partners on issues pertaining to the humanitarian, economic and environmental consequences of the Russian Federation’s war of aggression in Ukraine;
• Developing policy recommendations aimed at long-term support for Ukraine, particularly as it concerns the promotion of international justice and accountability mechanisms for the crimes committed by the Russian Federation in Ukraine, as well as the economic and environmental recovery of Ukraine.

Composition of the Parliamentary Support Team for Ukraine:

• Pia Kauma, Chair (Finland)
• Mykyta Poturaiev, Co-Chair (Ukraine)
• Joe Wilson, Co-Chair (USA)
• Daniela De Ridder (Germany)
• Richard Blumenthal (USA)
• Reinhold Lopatka (Austria)
• Mark Demesmaeker (Belgium)
• Lucie Potuckova (Czech Republic)
• Kristian Vigenin (Bulgaria)
• Rihards Kols (Latvia)
• Luis Graca (Portugal)
• Barbara Bartus (Poland)
• Selami Altinok (Türkiye)
• Pascal Allizard (France)
• Siv Mossleth (Norway)
• Vilija Aleknaite Abramikiene (Lithuania)
• John Aldag (Canada)
• Davor Bernardic (Croatia)
• Yevheniia Kravchuk (Ukraine)
• Nataliia Pipa (Ukraine)
• John Whittingdale (United Kingdom)
• Boris Dittrich (Netherlands)
• Carina Ödebrink (Sweden)

Within the Parliamentary Support Team for Ukraine, in November 2023, OSCE PA President Pia Kauma has appointed Rapporteurs: Rihards Kols (Latvia), Mark Demesmaeker (Belgium), Carina Ödebrink (Sweden).

Rihards Kols was appointed Rapporteur on Political Affairs and Security. The key functions of this role entail:  

• Following and monitoring developments of political affairs and security questions in Ukraine, with a particular focus on the restoration of Ukraine’s territorial integrity and the withdrawal of Russian troops and cessation of hostilities;
• Regularly reporting at the meetings of the Parliamentary Support Team to inform members on recent developments pertaining to the most pressing political and security challenges in Ukraine;
• Liaising with the leadership of the OSCE PA General Committee on Political Affairs and Security to enhance greater dialogue and coordination in support of the work of the General Committee on Ukraine;
• Coordinating with the Chair and Co-Chairs on the priorities and key objectives of the Parliamentary Support Team for Ukraine in the context of political and security related questions;

Mark Demesmaeker was appointed Rapporteur on Economic Affairs, Science, Technology and Environment. The key functions of this role entail:  

• Following and monitoring developments of economic affairs and environmental challenges in Ukraine, with a particular focus on radiation and nuclear safety;
• Regularly reporting at the meetings of the Parliamentary Support Team to inform members on recent developments pertaining to the most pressing economic and environmental challenges in Ukraine;
• Liaising with the leadership of the OSCE PA General Committee on Economic Affairs, Science, Technology and Environment to enhance greater dialogue and coordination in support of the work of the General Committee on Ukraine;
• Coordinating with the Chair and Co-Chairs on the priorities and key objectives of the Parliamentary Support Team for Ukraine in the context of economic and environment related questions;

Carina Ödebrink was appointed Rapporteur on Democracy, Human Rights and Humanitarian Questions. The key functions of this role entail:  

• Following and monitoring developments of human rights and humanitarian affairs in Ukraine, with a particular focus on the forced deportation and transfer of Ukrainian children by the Russian Federation;
• Regularly reporting at the meetings of the Parliamentary Support Team to inform members on recent developments pertaining to the most pressing challenges concerning human rights and humanitarian questions in Ukraine;
• Liaising with the leadership of the OSCE PA General Committee on Democracy, Human Rights and Humanitarian Questions to enhance greater dialogue and coordination in support of the work of the General Committee on Ukraine;
• Coordinating with the Chair and Co-Chairs on the priorities and key objectives of the Parliamentary Support Team for Ukraine in the context of human rights and humanitarian questions;

You can find a full overview of the OSCE PA Action on Ukraine here.

OSCE PA ACTION ON UKRAINE 2014-2024

OSCE PA Action on Ukraine 2014-2023

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