The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe is an important interstate body whose main task is to maintain peace and stability on the continent. The history of this structure has more than one decade. But the real effectiveness of the organization’s work has been debated for a long time. Let’s find out what the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe is like, find out its main goals and functions, as well as a brief history of its activities.
History of creation
First of all, we will find out under what circumstances the OSCE was created.
The idea of convening a meeting of state representatives that would elaborate general principles of international politics in the region was first voiced in Bucharest in 1966 by representatives of European countries from the socialist camp that were part of the ATS unit. Later this initiative was supported by France and some other Western states. But the decisive contribution was made by the position of Finland. It was this country that proposed holding these meetings in its capital, Helsinki.
A preliminary consultation phase took place from November 1972 to June 1973. The meeting was held by delegates from 33 European countries, as well as Canada and the United States. At this stage, the development of general recommendations on further cooperation took place, the rules and agenda of the negotiations were drawn up.
Directly the first meeting took place in early July 1973. It is from this date that it is customary to keep track of OSCE activities. At this stage, foreign ministers from all European countries except Albania and two North American states took part in the discussion. Points of contact were found on major issues, as reflected in the Final Recommendations.
At the second stage, which took place in Geneva from September 1973 to July 1975, representatives of the contracting countries clarified the most important points of common cooperation so that they would meet the interests of all participants as much as possible, as well as coordinate all disputed issues.
The direct signing of the final act took place in late July - early August 1975 in Helsinki. The top leaders of all 35 contracting countries took part in it. The final agreement was officially called the CSCE Final Act, and unofficially it was customarily called the Helsinki Accords.
Key provisions of the Helsinki Accords
The outcome document of the Helsinki Accords officially consolidated the results of World War II. In addition, 10 main principles of international legal relations were developed. Among them, the principle of inviolability of the existing territorial borders of European countries, non-intervention, equality of states, respect for fundamental human freedoms, the right of nations to decide their fate should be highlighted.
In addition, general agreements were worked out on relations in the cultural, military-political, legal and humanitarian spheres.
Further development of the organization
Since then, the Council on Security and Cooperation in Europe (CSCE) has begun to meet regularly. The meetings took place in Belgrade (1977-1978), Madrid (1980-1983), Stockholm (1984), as well as in Vienna (1986).
One of the most iconic was the meeting in Paris in September 1990, in which the top leadership of the participating countries participated. It adopted the famous Paris Charter, which marked the end of the Cold War, signed an arms treaty, and spelled out important organizational issues for further consultations.
At the Moscow meeting in 1991, a decree was adopted on the priority of human rights over domestic laws.
In 1992, at a meeting in Helsinki, the CSCE was reformatted. If earlier it, in fact, was a forum for communication between the leadership of the member states, then from that moment it began to turn into a full-fledged permanent organization. In the same year, a new post was introduced in Stockholm - the Secretary General of the CSCE.
In 1993, at a meeting in Rome, agreements were reached on the establishment of a Standing Committee, where the participating countries sent delegates to represent.
Thus, the CSCE began to increasingly acquire the features of a constantly functioning organization. To bring the name in line with the real format, in 1994 in Budapest it was decided that now the CSCE will be called nothing more than the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE). This provision has come into force since the beginning of 1995.
After this, significant meetings of the OSCE delegates took place in Lisbon (1996), Copenhagen (1997), Oslo (1998), Istanbul (1999), Vienna (2000), Bucharest (2001), Lisbon (2002), Maastricht (2003), Sofia (2004), Ljubljana (2005), Astana (2010). These forums discussed issues of regional security, terrorism, separatism, and human rights issues.
It should be noted that, starting in 2003, Russia in the OSCE has taken a position that often differs from the opinion of most other participating countries. For this reason, many common solutions are blocked. At one time, there was even talk of a possible withdrawal of the Russian Federation from the organization.
Goals
The main goals that the OSCE countries set themselves are to achieve peace and stability in Europe. To accomplish this task, the organization is actively involved in resolving conflicts between powers and within participating states, controls the proliferation of weapons, and conducts preventive diplomatic measures to prevent possible conflicts.
The organization monitors the economic situation and the environment in the region, as well as the observance of human rights in Europe. The activities of the OSCE are aimed at monitoring elections in participating countries by sending their observers to them. The organization encourages the development of democratic institutions.
Member countries
Europe has the largest representation in the organization. The OSCE has a total of 57 member countries. In addition to Europe, two states from North America (Canada and the USA), as well as a number of Asian countries (Mongolia, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, etc.) are directly involved in this organization.
But the status of the participant is not the only one that exists in this organization. Partners for cooperation are Afghanistan, Tunisia, Morocco, Israel and several other states.
The structure of the OSCE bodies
The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe has a rather extensive management structure.
To solve the most important issues of a global nature, the Summit of Heads of State and Government is convening. It is the decisions of this body that are of paramount importance. But it should be noted that the last time such a meeting took place in 2010 in Astana, and before that only in 1999.
Unlike the Summit, the Council of Foreign Ministers meets annually. In addition to discussing the most important issues, his tasks include the election of the Secretary General of the organization.
The OSCE Permanent Council is the main body of this organization, which works on an ongoing basis and meets every week in Vienna. He discusses the issues raised and makes decisions on them. This body is led by the current chairman.
In addition, the OSCE’s important structural bodies are the Parliamentary Assembly, the Office for Democratic Institutions, and the Forum for Security Co-operation.
The first persons in the OSCE are the Chairman-in-Office and the Secretary General. We will talk more about the significance of these posts and some of the OSCE structural bodies below.
Chairman-in-Office
The Chairman-in-Office is in charge of the management and organization of current OSCE activities.
This position is held by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the country that chairs the OSCE this year. In 2016, this honorable mission is performed by Germany, which means that the OSCE Foreign Minister F.-V. is the chairman of the OSCE. Stunmeier. In 2015, the post was held by the representative of Serbia, Ivica Dacic.
The chairman's tasks include coordinating the work of OSCE bodies, as well as representing the organization at the international level. For example, Ivitsa Dachich in 2015 took an active part in resolving the armed conflict in Ukraine.
Secretary General
The second most important post in the organization is the Secretary General. The election to this position is held every three years by the Council of Ministers. The current Secretary General is Italian Lamberto Zannier.
The authority of the Secretary-General includes leadership of the organization’s secretariat, that is, he is actually the head of the administration. In addition, this person acts as the representative of the OSCE during the absence of the current chairman.
Parliamentary assembly
The OSCE Parliamentary Assembly includes representatives from all 57 of its members. This structure was founded in 1992 as an inter-parliamentary organization. It consists of more than 300 deputies, which are delegated by the parliaments of the participating countries.
The headquarters of this authority is in Copenhagen. The first persons of the Parliamentary Assembly are the chairman and the secretary general.
PACE has a standing and three specialized committees.
Criticism
Recently, criticism of the organization has intensified. Many experts argue that at the moment, the OSCE is not able to address truly key challenges and needs to be reformed. Due to the nature of decision making, many decisions supported by a majority of members may be blocked by a minority.
In addition, there are precedents when even the adopted OSCE decisions are not implemented.
