Italy has been an OSCE participating State since June 25, 1973; chaired the OSCE in 1994; and has periodically had its elections observed by the OSCE/ODIHR.  A founding member of NATO, the E.U. and the Council of Europe, Italy has been the site of numerous OSCE meetings attended by Commissioners and Commission staff and has had an increased OSCE and Commission focus in recent years as a result of issues related to security, the economic downturn, and migration.