Prague hosted the 32nd OSCE Economic and Environmental Forum on anticipating technologies and science diplomacy
14.09.2026 / 21:14 | Aktualizováno: 14.09.2026 / 21:23
On 10-11 September 2026, the Czernin Palace hosted the Concluding Meeting of the 32nd OSCE Economic and Environmental Forum (EEF), the OSCE's flagship annual event in the economic and environmental dimension. This year's Forum focused on strengthening security and stability across the OSCE area through anticipating technological developments and advancing science-based diplomacy.
The Concluding Meeting of the EEF, entitled “Strengthening security and stability in the OSCE area through anticipating technologies and science-based diplomacy”, brought together representatives of OSCE participating States, international organizations, academia, the private sector and civil society.
The meeting was opened by Petr Macinka, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic, Feridun H. Sinirlioğlu, OSCE Secretary General, and Alexandre Fasel, State Secretary of the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs. The keynote address was delivered by Marilyne Andersen, Director General of the Geneva Science and Diplomacy Anticipator (GESDA).
"We must prepare the OSCE for the security challenges of tomorrow," Minister Petr Macinka stressed in his opening remarks. He underlined that emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence and quantum technologies, can serve as important drivers of prosperity, innovation and resilience, while at the same time creating new risks and transforming the nature of security threats.
Over the course of the two-day meeting, discussions focused on the use of strategic foresight to identify future risks and opportunities, the security implications of emerging technologies, and ways to make more effective use of scientific knowledge in public policymaking. Participants addressed topics including virtual assets, energy security, early warning systems, governance of emerging technologies, artificial intelligence, climate-related risks, and innovative tools for the management of natural resources.
A significant part of the programme was dedicated to the role of science in diplomacy and to ways in which scientific co-operation can strengthen trust and international collaboration. Discussions also explored how scientific expertise can help address shared security challenges and how long-term research partnerships can contribute to stability across the OSCE region.
The Economic and Environmental Forum is the OSCE's principal annual platform for dialogue on economic and environmental issues. Prague has long been associated with the Forum as the traditional host of its concluding meeting. By hosting this event, the Czech Republic once again reaffirmed its commitment to supporting the OSCE's economic and environmental dimension and to promoting common responses to emerging security challenges across the OSCE region.