Finland and the OSCE
The Permanent Mission of Finland to the OSCE in Vienna represents Finland’s interests and promotes Finland's objectives in the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE).
The activities of the Permanent Mission are led by the OSCE-accredited Ambassador and Permanent Representative Vesa Häkkinen (since 2021). The Permanent Mission of Finland to the OSCE is based in Vienna, where the OSCE Secretariat is located and weekly meetings are held.
History of the organization
In 1975, Finland signed the Helsinki Final Act(Link to another website.) along with 34 other States thus creating the Conference on Security and Co-operation in Europe (CSCE), later established as the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE). Ever since, Finland has been regarded as a strong supporter of the OSCE in its aim to ensure wide-ranging security. The 1975 Helsinki Final Act remains as one of the OSCE’s cornerstones.
Finland strives to defend the basic principles and commitments of the OSCE and to ensure that the Organization remains operational and able to provide the maximum value added and security for Finland, Europe, and the neighboring regions. We focus on the active participation and commitment of all participating States to the OSCE.
Finland emphasizes the importance of the OSCE principles and commitments
We aim to fully utilize the wide-ranged tools that the Organization has at its disposal. The OSCE continues its valuable and concrete work across the OSCE region, including through its 12 Field Operations and three autonomous institutions (ODIHR, High Commissioner on National Minorities and Representative on Freedom of the Media).
Our objective is to contribute constructively to issues important for Finland in accordance with the policies and priorities of the government programme and the Foreign Ministry of Finland. We will also work to support Finnish candidates to central positions in the OSCE Secretariat, institutions and field operations.
Support for Ukraine remains vital
Support for Ukraine will remain at the center of Finland's work in the OSCE, across all dimensions (Politico-Military dimension, Economic and Environmental dimension and Human dimension).
The OSCE's role in peace mediation should be supported. Finland, Switzerland and Turkey co-chair the OSCE Peace Mediation Group of Friends. Furthermore, Finland promotes gender equality issues as well as strong participation of civil society.
As a member of the European Union, Finland coordinates its OSCE policies with other EU Member States.
Finland's Chairpersonship of the OSCE 2025
Finnish OSCE Chairpersonship 2025 is part of our commitment to rules-based international order and enhancing European security through reconfirming the Helsinki principles. The OSCE’s collectively agreed principles and commitments continue to be vitally important.
The overall theme of our Chairpersonship will be resilience - that of both the participating States and the OSCE.
Permanent Representatives of Finland to the OSCE |
|
| 1986–1989 | Markku Reimaa |
| 1989–1992 | Pertti Torstila |
| 1992–1995 | René Nyberg |
| 1995–1998 | Pekka Ojanen |
| 1998–2002 | Pekka Kujasalo |
| 2002–2007 | Aleksi Härkönen |
| 2007–2010 | Antti Turunen |
| 2010–2013 | Timo Kantola |
| 2013–2017 | Katja Pehrman |
| 2017–2021 | Päivi Laivola de Rosière |
| 2021 | Vesa Häkkinen |