The OSCE Secretariat bears no responsibility for the content of this document FSC-PC.DEL/76/25 and circulates it without altering its content. The distribution by OSCE 27 November 2025 Conference Services of this document is without prejudice to OSCE decisions, as set out in documents agreed by OSCE participating States. ENGLISH only
EUROPEAN UNION OSCE 97th Joint FSC - PC meeting Vienna, 26 November 2025
EU Statement on the Helsinki Final Act – 50 years
Mr Chair, we thank you for providing us with this opportunity to mark the anniversary of the Helsinki Final Act. The discussions during the Chairpersonship Helsinki+50 Conference: Respecting the Legacy, Preparing for the Future reconfirmed its continued validity, while deploring that many of its core principles have been and continue to be systematically violated, not least in the context of Russia’s aggression against Ukraine.
The Helsinki Final Act provides us with core principles and commitments that formed the foundation of relations between participating States and our collective security. We reiterate that fundamental principles such as sovereignty, territorial integrity, and the peaceful resolution of disputes are collective obligations that are neither negotiable nor subject to revision or re-interpretation. Russia’s deliberate violations of these principles do not make them obsolete.
We remain committed to strengthening the OSCE and upholding the commonly agreed principles and commitments that underpin it. A recommitment to this end, by all participating States, is therefore vital, as a common and indivisible security space can only be achieved when all participating States uphold the principles and rules to which they have committed.
The EU and its Member States remain steadfast in their commitment to a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in Ukraine, grounded in the principles of the UN Charter and the Helsinki Final Act. A full, unconditional ceasefire could serve as a vital step toward reducing civilian suffering and allow space for meaningful talks for genuine peace aimed at ending Russia’s war of aggression and restoring a comprehensive, just and lasting peace.
We strongly support all efforts to preserve the Organisation’s continued engagement in and support to Ukraine. OSCE leadership, executive structures, and autonomous institutions must continue the Organisation’s ongoing assistance
eeas.europa.eu/delegations/vienna • PAGE 1/3 to Ukraine, notably through the Special Representative of the OSCE Chairpersonship – Project Co-ordinator in Ukraine, the Support Programme for Ukraine (SPU), ODIHR and RFOM. We also call for accountability for all international crimes and human rights violations and abuses, in the context of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine; thus OSCE, through ODIHR and Human Dimension Mechanisms, can bring its contribution.
The Helsinki Final Act contains the principles for the peaceful resolution of all unresolved conflicts in the OSCE region, including those in the Republic of Moldova and in Georgia with full respect for their territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence within their internationally recognised borders, which remains a key priority for the EU. We commend the Republic of Moldova for its resilience. The EU also strongly supports the Armenia-Azerbaijan normalisation process, based on the principles of recognition of sovereignty, the inviolability of borders and territorial integrity.
Through the Helsinki Final Act the participating States recognise that lasting security cannot be sustained without respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, democracy, and the rule of law. As we continue to see repression on human rights and fundamental freedoms, evidenced by mounting pressure and attacks on human rights defenders, journalists and media actors across the OSCE area, our OSCE commitments are more relevant than ever and we need to redouble the focus on their implementation.
Mr Chair, as also outlined in EU priorities at the OSCE, the EU and its Member States remain committed to safeguarding the OSCE as one of the pillars of the European security order and continuing to promote support for the international rules-based order in accordance with the UN Charter and the Helsinki Decalogue.
We use this opportunity to restate our unwavering support for the work and mandates of the OSCE field missions, the OSCE Secretariat, and the autonomous institutions—ODIHR, RFoM, and HCNM. We emphasise that it is our shared responsibility to preserve their strong mandates, and guarantee their effective functioning and adequate budgets, as we note with concern the Organisation’s deteriorating financial situation.
eeas.europa.eu/delegations/vienna • PAGE 2/3 The EU and its Member States will continue to strive for principled dialogue and accountability based on the Helsinki Final Act, today in this joint FSC-PC meeting as well as in the weekly meetings of the Forum for Security Co-operation and the Permanent Council. Most of all, as we continue to address Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine and its repercussions for European and global security.
We recall that all participating States must adhere to and respect OSCE core principles contained in the Helsinki Final Act, hold one another accountable and refrain from deliberately violating our common commitments.
Thank you.
Albania, Andorra, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Monaco Montenegro, North Macedonia, Norway, Republic of Moldova, San Marino and Ukraine align themselves with this statement.
eeas.europa.eu/delegations/vienna • PAGE 3/3