PC.DEL/944/26 2 October 2026 1 ENGLISH only
STATEMENT ON THE UNIFIED BUDGET PROPOSAL 2027
As delivered by Ambassador Ellen Svendsen at the 1579th Permanent Council, Vienna, 01 October 2026
Mr. Chair. Allow me to begin by expressing our support to this organization’s activities across the three dimensions, the autonomous institutions, and the field presences. We take this opportunity to thank the staff in all OSCE locations for their dedicated work to further the implementation of our mandate. Norway’s primary objective remains to preserve and strengthen the programmatic and operational capacity across the OSCE. This means balancing the efforts in the three dimensions, as well as supporting the implementation in key cross-cutting issues such as gender equality. It also means strengthening the organizational capacity of the OSCE. First. Norway are positive to support a zero real growth budget. This means a budget that appreciates inflation rates and ensures the OSCE as a competitive employer. Priorities and strategic choices will continue to be made. Following the adaptation of the 2026 budget, a zero real growth budget will allow the organisation to stabilise. It will enable strategic choices to be made in deliberate and informed manner rather than in response to immediate financial constraints. Second. Restructuring must safeguard the balance between the three dimensions of security and contribute to the OSCE’s continued functionality, operability and comparative advantage. It is not clear to us at this point how the proposed three pillar structure of the secretariat contributes to that end. Third. We welcome that the Gender Issues Programme remains within the Office of the Secretary General, retaining its strategic reach and contributing to concrete results on the ground. Additionally, we appreciate the proposal to strengthen the sustainability of operational health and security by establishing a UB-funded Occupational Health Medical Assistant position. Finally. The coming budget-process shows the importance of reaching consensus on the incoming Chairpersonship for 2027. From today onwards the ACMF works without a chair. This is not sustainable for our organization. Thank you.
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