Stability in the OSCE Area is a Strategic Priority for the EU *

Josep Borrell
High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Former President of the European Parliament and former President of the European University Institute

I am very happy that after six months of discussion, tomorrow we are to appoint a new Secretary General and the heads of the three OSCE autonomous institutions. I am confident that with a new highly competent and experienced leadership, the OSCE can focus on the challenges ahead.

Now, the work of the Organization must be taken forward with renewed energy and determination. The European Union supports the intention of the Swedish Chairman-in-Office to focus in 2021 on “the fundamental tasks of the OSCE: to defend the European security order and to uphold the OSCE comprehensive concept of security”. This is unfortunately particularly relevant today, when the OSCE area is facing a number of crises, many of which erupted in 2020.

Let me recall the European Union’s unwavering commitment to multilateralism. Going it alone is not an option – for anyone. The more we work together, the better will the solution be. The global challenges we are facing today – be it the corona pandemic or climate change – recognise no borders and can only be addressed effectively through multilateral cooperation and structures based on respect for human rights and rule of law.

Forty-five years ago, we established the Conference for Security and Co-operation in Europe (CSCE), during the Cold War. This was a tremendous victory of multilateralism and cooperation over unilateral and antagonistic approaches. Fifteen years later, the Paris Charter stated the end of the Cold War and opened great hopes for the OSCE region.

Many of them became reality, but unfortunately, thirty years later, the atmosphere within the OSCE is more and more one of confrontation. The spirit of Helsinki and Paris seems far away, and we observe more crises erupting than being solved.

Today, the European Union is confident that the OSCE remains the key forum and instrument to address security challenges in the region. I refer here to both specific conflicts in our region and also emerging and transnational threats that impact us all.

What was valid 45 years ago still holds today: the European security architecture can be defended only by respecting international law and OSCE principles and commitments, namely the Helsinki Final Act and the Paris Charter.

In that context, I welcome the recent positive developments in Ukraine. The renewed ceasefire is largely holding since the end of July. It spares lives and this matters greatly to the European Union.  Regrettably, Crimea and the city of Sevastopol are still illegally annexed by Russia. The European Union reiterates its unwavering support to Ukraine’s independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity.

We need a long-term political solution to achieve a lasting peace in the eastern Ukraine. This will require political will by all parties to the conflict. The full implementation of the Minsk agreements is a key condition in this regard.

The work of the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission is invaluable. European Union Member States contribute to more than two thirds in personnel and budget. It must enjoy full, safe, unconditional and unhindered access throughout Ukraine, in accordance with its mandate, and no pretext should limit this.

Let me mention also a few words about Belarus. I regret to say that 4 months after the elections the Belarusian authorities still continue to employ violence against peaceful protesters, against ordinary Belarusian citizens. We welcome the report drafted under the framework of the OSCE Moscow Mechanism. We call on Belarusian authorities to fully implement its recommendations.

We also urge Belarus to accept the mediation proposal of the Albanian Chairmanship-in-Office, the incoming Swedish one and the OSCE Secretariat.

In and around Nagorno-Karabakh, we welcome the cessation of hostilities. The ceasefire brokered in Moscow on 9 November between Armenia and Azerbaijan will hopefully be a first step towards a comprehensive settlement. But a cease-fire is not peace, as we Europeans know all too well.

Lasting peace, including the status of Nagorno-Karabakh, still needs to be negotiated. The European Union reiterates its full support to the only established format: the OSCE Minsk Group led by its Co-Chairs, to pursue this objective. We, the European Union, also stand ready to contribute to these efforts and to the implementation of agreements leading to sustainable peace and prosperous development of the entire South Caucasus region.

We reiterate our conviction that the protracted conflicts in our area can be resolved only if participating States agree to solve them in line with the OSCE principles. This is the case for Nagorno-Karabakh but also Georgia, through the Geneva international discussions, and Moldova. We therefore welcome the adoption of the Ministerial Statement on the negotiations on the Transnistrian settlement process in the “5+2” format.

Excellencies, stability in the OSCE area is a strategic priority for the European Union. We will continue to mobilize our instruments and policies towards achieving this goal.

In the Western Balkans, European Union integration and enlargement perspectives are strong tools for pushing forward positive change in line with our shared interests, from security and stability to economy and efforts against climate change.

In our Eastern neighbourhood, we are now shaping our future Eastern Partnership agenda, which for eleven years has been delivering tangible results for the people.

In Central Asia, the European Union remains committed to supporting reform, democracy, regional cooperation and economic development, in line with our 2019 “Strategy on Central Asia”. We wish to support concretely green and sustainable post-COVID recovery in the region.

Together with its Member States, the European Union continues to believe that it is vital to modernise the OSCE politico-military toolbox, most notably the Vienna Document, in order to increase military stability, transparency and predictability.

Mr Chairperson, dear friends, the OSCE is the world’s largest regional security organization. It provides us with a unique platform for dialogue and normative framework, and we all prefer that frank words are exchanged in Vienna, rather than bullets and shells on the ground.

That is why I would like to reiterate once again that the European Union fully supports OSCE comprehensive approach to security, encompassing the politico-military, the economic and environmental, and the human dimensions. All these dimensions are very important for the OSCE work. There is indeed neither lasting peace nor security if those challenges are not addressed altogether. This has to be our strong commitment.

* Remarks by the High Representative/Vice-President at the 27th OSCE Ministerial Council, held in Brussels, 03/12/2020