ZIF delegation visits OSCE headquarters
ZIF's last business trip of 2023 took a small delegation to the headquarters of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) in Vienna. On 13 and 14 December, ZIF Executive Director Dr. Astrid Irrgang, Human Resources Team Leader Julia Gellermann and Management Assistant Anna Schablitzki met with high-ranking OSCE representatives, the German Permanent Representative and our seconded staff.
The aim of the short visit was not only to discuss the current challenges facing the OSCE in the geopolitical situation, but above all to further strengthen joint cooperation. At the OSCE Ministerial Council in Skopje, North Macedonia, at the end of November, the term of office of the top staff, including Secretary General Helga Maria Schmid, was extended by nine months. Malta will take over the chairmanship of the world's largest security organization in January 2024. This decision secures the OSCE's ability to work in the medium term, but only to a limited extent: Russia continues to block the OSCE budget, meaning that no new posts can be created in the twelve field missions, no adjustments can be made to the high inflation rate and projects to strengthen democracy and human rights cannot be implemented.
The current foreign and security policy situation and its impact on the OSCE were therefore the focus of the talks with OSCE Secretary General Helga Schmid and German Ambassador Susanne Schütz. At the meeting with Catherine Fearon, Acting Head of Conflict Prevention Centre, and Kate Walker, the designated Director of the OSCE Academy Bishkek, mutual interests in exchange and cooperation were explored. HR policies, duty of care and vacancies were the focus of the meeting with OSCE's Director of Human Resources, Paolo Bernansconi; a detailed briefing was held with the security team. Bilateral talks with our secondees and a contingent dinner rounded off the trip.
"The personal exchange with the OSCE representatives and our seconded staff is particularly valuable," says Dr. Astrid Irrgang. "The trip showed once again that the OSCE is indispensable for security and stability. We therefore look forward to continuing to contribute directly and indirectly to the OSCE's ability to act in 2024 with secondments, operational expertise and background formats."