IIASA at the Concluding Meeting of the OSCE Economic and Environmental Forum

Concluding Meeting of the 27th OSCE Economic and Environmental Forum on “Promoting economic progress and security in the OSCE area through energy co-operation, new technologies, good governance and connectivity in the digital era” took place in Prague on 11-12 September 2019.

Among main topics explored at the meeting are digital economy governance – innovation empowerment while ensuring data protection and privacy, enhancement of social inclusion of digital transformation, citizens and businesses empowerment in harnessing benefits of digital transformation, challenges of digital transformation on economy and society, new technologies and innovative solutions for improving business climate and supporting economic growth.

OSCE 2019 Slovak Chairmanship also briefed the audience on its efforts to address implications of digital transformation and its impact on social stability, security and cooperation in the OSCE region.

IIASA Acting Deputy Director General/CEO, Program Director of Advanced Systems Analysis Program and Acting Program Director of Evolution and Ecology Program Elena Rovenskaya was invited to deliver keynote speech at the Opening Session of the meeting, where she joined H.E. Mr. Miroslav Lajčák, OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, Minister of Foreign and European Affairs of Slovakia; Ambassador Thomas Greminger, OSCE Secretary General; H.E. Mr. Tomáš Petříček, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic; and H.E. Mr. Etjen Xhafaj , Deputy Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs of Albania.

Elena Rovenskaya addressed the audience with a presentation on digitalization as a new catalyst for economic growth and connectivity or a challenge to our well-being and on other research findings of IIASA international project “Challenges and Opportunities of Economic Integration within a Wider European and Eurasian Space”.

On the basis of foreseen discussions OSCE 2019 Slovak Chairmanship will elaborate elements in economic and environmental dimension for consideration of the OSCE Ministerial Council, which will take place on 5-6 December 2019 in Bratislava.

Elena Rovenskaya at a high-level Opening Session. © Sergey Sizov | IIASA

Elena Rovenskaya addresses Concluding Meeting of the 27th OSCE EEF. © Sergey Sizov | IIASA

Last edited: 05 December 2019