The Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe
IR 2001 International Organisations in Europe
OSCE: Questions
• Under what conditions was the CSCE created?• What were the objectives of the CSCE?• How did the CSCE encapsulate the changing
nature of security?• What is the role of the OSCE following the end of
the Cold War?• Does it have a part to play in the so-called ‘War
on Terror’?
OSCE Sources
• OSCE Fact Book
• Galbreath 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007
• OSCE web sources• Field Missions• Institutions• Budgets, etc. . .
OSCE and European Security
• The mandate for regional security institutions is established in the UN Charter, Chapter VIII.
OSCE and European Security
• The OSCE begins with a non-traditional approach to the concept of security.• Common Security• Comprehensive Security
OSCE and European Security
• The rationale behind the OSCE: ‘Participating states have a common stake in the security of Europe and should therefore co-operate to prevent crises getting worse. The underlying assumption is that co-operation can bring benefits to all participating States, while insecurity in one state can affect the well-being of all.’
OSCE and European Security
• Decisions by the OSCE are not legally binding, that is they do not enter into international law.
• However, OSCE decisions are politically important.
OSCE and European Security
• Contributions to European Security Architecture• Epistemic input• Quiet diplomacy• Focus on national minorities• Presence in the field
OSCE and European Security
• OSCE/CSCE: What is the difference?
• History
OSCE and European Security
• ‘Final Recommendations of the Helsinki Consultations’
• The ‘Helsinki Process’
OSCE and European Security
• The CSCE Final Act
• Decalogue
• Basket I• Basket II• Basket II
OSCE and European Security
• Helsinki Decalogue
1) Sovereign equality, respect for the rights inherent in sovereignty
2) Refraining from the threat or use of force
3) Inviolability of frontiers
4) Territorial integrity of states
OSCE and European Security
5) Peaceful settlement of disputes
6) Non-intervention in internal affairs
7) Respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms including the freedom of thought , conscience, religion or belief.
8) Equal rights and self-determination of peoples
9) Co-operation among States
10) Fulfilment of obligations under international law
OSCE and European Security
• The CSCE Final Act• Basket I: politico-military aspects of security,
military confidence-building measures, and guiding relationships between states (Helsinki Decalogue)
OSCE and European Security
• The CSCE Final Act• Basket II: the co-ordination between member-
states concerning such areas as economics, science and technology as well as the environment
OSCE and European Security
• The CSCE Final Act• Basket III: Co-operation in humanitarian and
other fields• Human Rights and Security
CSCE: A Unique Institution?
• Was the CSCE a ‘unique and innovative’ institution?• Wide-membership representing both blocs• Comprehensive approach to security• Consensual decision-making• Decisions were (are) politically binding rather
than legally• No institutional structure
From CSCE to OSCE
• The Collapse of Communism and end of Cold War• Paris Charter for a New Europe (1990)• Berlin 1991 and Prague 1992• Helsinki 1992• Budapest Conference 1994
From CSCE to OSCE
• Paris Charter for a New Europe (1990)• Addressed the end of the Cold War• Regular meetings of Heads of States and
Foreign Ministers• Permanent administrative infrastructure
• Director, Secretariat, Conflict Prevention Centre and an Office for Free Elections
• Decentralised bureaucracy: Prague, Vienna, Warsaw
From CSCE to OSCE
• First Council Meeting Berlin 1991• Berlin Mechanism: emergency consultation
• Second Council Meeting Prague 1992• Committee of Senior Officials• ‘Consensus minus one’
From CSCE to OSCE
• Helsinki Follow-up Meeting 1992• Institutionalisation of the CSCE
• Forum for Security Co-operation
• High Commissioner on National Minorities
• Economic Forum
• Financial Committee of Experts
From CSCE to OSCE
• Budapest Summit 1994• From ‘Conference on…’ (CSCE)
• To ‘Organization for…’ (OSCE)
High Commissioner on National Minorities
(The Hague)
Representative on Freedom of the Media
(Vienna)
Office for Democratic Institutions and Human
Rights(Warsaw)
OSCE Field Activities(Various states)
Ministerial Councils and Summits
OSCE Secretariat
(Vienna)
Permanent Council(Vienna)
Chairman-in-OfficeTroika(Vienna)
Secretary GeneralAction against Terrorism Unit (ATU)Anti-Trafficking Assistance UnitConflict Prevention Centre (CPC)External Co-operation
Office of the Co-ordinator of OSCE Economic and Environmental ActivitiesGender mainstreamingStrategic Police Matters Unit (SPMU)Training Section
Forum for Security Co-operation
(Vienna)
Operational Structures and Institutions Decision-Making Bodies
Main OSCE Institutions
Source: ‘OSCE About – Institutions’ (http://www.osce.org/about/13509.html)
Economic Forum(Vienna)
Parliamentary Assembly
(Copenhagen)
The OSCE in the Post-Cold War
• The basic priorities of the OSCE:• Democratisation• Conflict prevention/resolution• Common and comprehensive security
OSCE Instruments
• Fact-finding and rapporteur missions• Missions and other field activities• Personal representatives of the Chairman-
in-Office• Ad hoc steering groups• Mechanisms for peaceful settlement of
disputes• Peacekeeping operations
OSCE Field Activities
• Front-line of the OSCE
• Most visible part of the OSCE
• From policy to implementation
• Areas: early warning, preventive diplomacy, conflict management, and post-conflict rehabilitation.
Case study: Kosovo
• July 1999• Objectives
• Police training
• Judicial and civil admin
• Civil society
• Media development
• Elections
• Human rights
Case study: Latvia
• November 1993• Objectives
• Naturalisation
• Language
• Education
• Employment
• Integration
Case study: Georgia
• December 1992• Objectives
• Negotiations between parties
• Human rights
• Focus• South Ossetia
• Abkhazia
• Chechnya
Case study: Chechnya
• April 1995-• Objectives
• Conflict-resolution
• Post-Conflict Rehabilitation
• Pulled out December 1998
Case study: Tajikistan
• December 1993• Objectives
• Political reconciliation
• Confidence-building
• Democratisation
• Human rights
OSCE and European Security
• Contributions to European Security Architecture• Epistemic input• Quiet diplomacy• Focus on national minorities• Presence in the field
Conclusion
• Under what conditions was the CSCE created?• What were the objectives of the CSCE?• How did the CSCE encapsulate the changing
nature of security?• What is the role of the OSCE following the end of
the Cold War?• Does it have a part to play in the so-called ‘War
on Terror’?