1. The European Union and its Member States would like to thank the Chairpersonship of Finland for organising this event on the timely and important topic of strengthening resilience to economic and environmental challenges stemming from climate change. We deeply regret that, despite the Finland Chairpersonship's continuous efforts, consensus on the theme, agenda and modalities of the 32^nd Economic and Environmental Forum was not reached.

   We also extend our appreciation to the speakers and panellists, who offered valuable perspectives from academia, the public and private sectors, and civil society. We are grateful to the moderators for facilitating fruitful discussions on the transboundary impacts of environmental and economic issues on our collective security. 

2. This meeting granted us a valuable opportunity to learn from different viewpoints about the connections between energy security, biodiversity protection and climate change, and the ways forward in enhancing resilience to climate-related security challenges. Climate change and environmental degradation lead to increased instability and resource scarcity, including water and food insecurity, and they represent a barrier to achieving the SDGs and can affect global health. Vulnerable people, including women and children, are disproportionately affected. The EU believes that climate change, environmental degradation, peace and security are interconnected, and we will continue to work with partners in relevant multilateral and international fora to advance mutual understanding and uphold commitments to address interrelated challenges, while paying specific attention to the most vulnerable.

3. We have listened with interest to the panel discussion which highlighted the transition to sustainable clean energy sources, and the security risks stemming from the environmental degradation, and damage to critical energy infrastructure in the context of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine.Russia’s deliberate campaign against Ukraine’s energy and other civilian infrastructure has severely impacted energy security, depriving millions of Ukrainians of stable access to electricity, heating and cooling. Intentionally directed attacks against civilian objects, including critical infrastructure, are clear violations of international law, as well as OSCE principles and commitments, and must stop immediately. The EU is committed to continuing to support Ukraine in cooperation with partners. For instance, the European Commission has offered a new support package to Ukraine to secure its energy system, and to enable its full integration within the European energy market. We continue to attach particular importance to strengthening the resilience of critical energy networks, increasing energy efficiency and harnessing renewable energy as an effective means of enhancing energy security in OSCE participating States.

4. In conclusion, the EU fully supports the importance attached to strengthening climate resilience, and responses to economic and environmental challenges and security threats, in line with the 2021 Stockholm Ministerial Council Decision.In this vein, we welcome these discussions as preparation for the OSCE Chairpersonship Conference on Climate and Security on 11 June, which will contribute to putting the Ministerial Decision into practice. The EU looks forward to building upon the outcomes of this conference through further constructive engagement in the OSCE’s economic and environmental dimension, and will continue to engage in economic and environmental cooperation as a tool for enhancing security, confidence building, and conflict prevention in the OSCE region, in line with OSCE values and commitments. 

Albania, Andorra, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Montenegro, North
Macedonia, Norway, San Marino and Ukraine align themselves with this statement.