the OSCE’s Efforts to Address Transnational Threats. The decision welcomed “the proposals by the Secretary General included in the 2012 Unified Budget Proposal for the creation of a department to address transnational threats, consistent with the OSCE’s mandates and within available resources, with a view to ensuring better co-ordination, strengthened coherence and more efficient use of the OSCE’s resources in addressing transnational threats.” To further strengthen the OSCE’s efforts to address transnational threats, the Dublin Ministerial Council adopted Decision No. 4/12 in December 2012. This so called ‘chapeau’ decision endorses four decisions which had been adopted in 2012 by the Permanent Council on the Development of confidence-building measures to reduce the risks of conflict stemming from the use of information and communication technologies (PC Decision No. 1039), the OSCE Concept for Combating the Threat of Illicit Drugs and the Diversion of Chemical Precursors (PC Decision No. 1048), the OSCE Strategic Framework for Police-Related Activities (PC Decision No. 1049) and finally, the OSCE Consolidated Framework for the Fight against Terrorism (PC Decision No. 1063). In the PC Decision No. 1039 on the Development of Confidence-Building Measures to Reduce the Risks of Conflict Stemming from the Use of Information and Communication Technologies, the Permanent Council “decides to step up individual and collective efforts to address security in the use of information and communication technologies (ICTs) in a comprehensive and crossdimensional manner in accordance with OSCE commitments and in co-operation with relevant international organizations. The PC further tasks the OSCE Chairmanship to establish an openended, informal OSCE working group under the auspices of the Security Committee to elaborate a set of draft confidence-building measures (CBMs) to enhance interstate co-operation, transparency, predictability, and stability, and to reduce the risks of misperception, escalation, and conflict that may stem from the use of ICT; and to help build consensus for the adoption of such a set of CBMs in 2012”. The OSCE Concept for Combatting the Threat of Illicit Drugs and the Diversion of Chemical Precursors (PC Decision No. 1048) identifies areas and activities for a short-, medium- and longterm engagement in combating the threat of illicit drugs and the diversion of chemical precursors that requires sustained efforts, and establishes a political framework for comprehensive action by the OSCE participating States and the OSCE executive structures to combat this threat. The Concept stresses the participating States’ commitments to support the implementation of the respective international obligations in this area, with a particular focus on the related United Nations Conventions and decisions. It also sets principles and major objectives of co-operation, and provides a platform for OSCE’s co-operation with international organizations and partners in recognition of the important role played by civil society, including the media and non-governmental organizations, in addressing drug-related crimes, as well as preventive measures aimed at reducing drug abuse and dependence, and drug-related harm to health and society, especially to children and young people. According to the Concept, the participating States’ co-operation will include, inter alia, the exchange of best practices and scientific evidencebased information on combating the threat of illicit drugs; as well as the facilitation and promotion of cross-border interaction between relevant criminal justice agencies and other competent national structures of the participating States in the prevention, identification, suppression, detection and investigation of drug-related crimes, and the apprehension and extradition of criminals in accordance with existing legal frameworks. The OSCE Strategic Framework for Police-Related Activities defines the Organization’s priorities in this area, such as police development and reform, and the fight against organized transnational crime, including trafficking in illicit drugs and precursors, trafficking in human beings, the sexual exploitation of children on the Internet, and cybercrime, within a wider OSCE approach to security. Through needs assessment, capacity building, institution building, training and evaluation the OSCE will assist the law enforcement agencies of the participating States to address the threats posed by criminal activity. All of these activities will be done in line with the promotion of the principles of democratic policing, such as the importance of the rule of law; due respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, including gender and minority issues; policepublic partnerships; effective and accountable criminal justice systems; and enhanced criminal justice co-operation among participating States and international and regional organizations. The 164