Permanent Council
Germany and the European Union within the OSCE
The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) evolved from the Conference on Security and Co-operation in Europe (CSCE) which had adopted the Helsinki Final Act at its conclusion in 1975. The official change of name from CSCE to OSCE became effective on 1st January 1995. The 57 participating States of the OSCE comprise all European countries, all countries of the former Soviet Union as well as the United States and Canada. The OSCE advocates a comprehensive concept of security including politico-military, economic and environmental as well as human rights aspects of security. Cross-dimensional security issues, the so-called transnational threats, as well as questions related to conflict management are receiving special attention.
The weekly meetings of the OSCE Permanent Council provide a regular forum for the political exchange and decision making between participating States regarding the implementation of OSCE commitments and related security issues. As a rule, Germany expresses its positions in the framework of respective statements on behalf of the European Union which are co-ordinated and drafted on a weekly basis by the OSCE delegations of EU member states in Vienna, including the delegation of the European Union.
Military aspects of security in the OSCE area, in particular confidence- and security-building measures, are being delt with by the OSCE Forum for Security Co-operation which also meets weekly in Vienna to discuss and make decisions.
The 57 participating States of the OSCE
Statements by the EU OSCE participating States in the Permanent Council and in the Forum for Security Co-operationl
Detailed information provided by the German Foreign Office
Disarmament, arms control and non-proliferation are key fields of action for German foreign and security policy. The German Government is working for greater security and stability through weapons red...
2012 Annual Disarmament Report approved
19th Ministerial Council 2012
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19th OSCE-Ministerial Council Meeting in Dublin
(© AA)
On December 6 and 7, 2012, the Council of Ministers of the OSCE participating States convened with the participation of Minister of State Mr. Michael Georg Link in Dublin, the capital of Ireland who assumed the 2012 OSCE chairmanship.
Minister of State Link during the OSCE Ministerial Council Meeting in Dublin
(© AA)
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Statement
by Minister of State Link
Statement by the Permanent Representative of the Federal Republic of Germany to the OSCE in Vienna, Ambassador Rüdiger Lüdeking on the commemoration of 20th anniversary of the entry into Force of the Treaty on Conventional Forces in Europe
on November 6, 2012
20_Jahre_KSE_en [pdf, 61.53k]
Mr. Ernst-Reinhard Beck, Member of the Defence Committee of the Federal German Parliament (Bundestag), addressed the OSCE Forum for Security Co-operation (FSC) on 6 June 2012 in Vienna on democratic ...
Forum for Security Co-operation
STATEMENT BY MR. MICHAEL SCHMUNK,
DEPUTY HEAD OF MISSION AND ACTING PERMANANT
REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DELEGATION OF GERMANY, AT THE
2012 ANNUAL SECURITY REVIEW CONFERENCE
Vienna, 27 June 2012
Working ...
ASRC - reflections on the conflict cycle
German Foreign Minister Westerwelle met with the new OSCE Secetary General Zannier
On 28 September, the OSCE’s new Secretary General, Lamberto Zannier, met for the first time with Germany’s Foreign Minister, Guido Westerwelle. Among the main topics of Zannier’s talks in Berlin’s Foreign Ministry were the preparations for the Vilnius’ Ministerial Council in early December, the OSCE’s efforts for a solution of the so-called protracted regional conflicts in the OSCE area as well as political strategies and structural reforms of the Organization.
For the third time Germany offered its hospitality to the Moldovan and Transnistrian leaders and their negotiation teams in the framework of the OSCE's ongoing efforts of conflict resolution between t...
OSCE activities in Moldova
OSCE Astana Summit 1/2 December 2010
Concluding the 2010 Kazach Chairmanship of the OSCE the Heads of State and Government of the 56 Participating States met in Astana on 1 and 2 December in order to provide orientation on the future development of the organization in the politico-military, the economic-environmental and the human dimension in the framework of the OSCE's concept of comprehensive security. This was the first meeting on summit level since Istanbul 1999.
Address to the Summit by Federal Chancellor Merkel
Final Summit Document
Freedom of the Internet
Cyberspace is a public good and a public space. Being a public space, states have to take care of the security in cyberspace, particularly regarding security against crime, malicious activities plus the safeguard of users' authenticity, integrity and confidentiality of data and networks.
Cyberspace is global by nature, thus cybersecurity requires global cooperation among nations.
Germany is determined to play an active role in international and regional organizations promoting initiatives that comprehensively enhance cyber security.
Article by German Foreign Minister Westerwelle on Freedom of the Internet
The Moscow Mechanism - an OSCE Tool for Monitoring Human Dimension Commitments of OSCE Participating States
The OSCE disposes of a number of tools in support of the respect of Human Dimension commitments of OSCE Participating States. One of those tools is the so-called Moscow Mechanism.
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Other OSCE Participating States
Please visit equally the link to the web site of other Permanent Representations to the OSCE in order to get more information about the activities of other EU member states and the European Union within the OSCE.
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With an extra-budgetary contributions of 244.000 Euros the German government supports an OSCE-initiative involving OSCE Mediterranean Partners and aiming at promoting democratic transition processes. ...
Support by the Federal Republic of Germany
Permanent Mission of the Federal Republic of Germany to the OSCE
