Opening remarks by Minister Elina Valtonen at the OSCE Ministerial Council

Opening remarks by Minister Elina Valtonen at the OSCE Ministerial Council

Opening remarks by the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Finland Elina Valtonen at the OSCE Ministerial Council in Vienna 4 December 2025.

Dear colleagues,
Ladies and gentlemen,

When Finland assumed the OSCE Chairpersonship, we made three clear commitments:
1. To uphold the OSCE's core principles.
2. To respond to today's urgent challenges.
3. And to prepare this Organization for the future.

These commitments have guided everything we have done this year. Respect for the Helsinki principles has been our foundation. The principles define the OSCE's purpose and legitimacy.

At a time when many question whether the OSCE can still serve as a forum for cooperation, Finland has answered with action. We have been inclusive, transparent, and principled - always basing our work on international law and in the commitments we all share.

Supporting Ukraine and ensuring accountability for Russia's violations of international law have been at the heart of our Chairpersonship.

My visit to Ukraine, just days after taking office, underscored this commitment. I saw the devastation of war firsthand - especially during my visit to a children's hospital. I will never forget the fear in young Marija's eyes when the air sirens sounded.

A particular priority has been bringing Ukrainian children back home. Through the Support Programme for Ukraine, the OSCE helps register missing children and support their rehabilitation. We welcome the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly joining the International Coalition for the Return of Ukrainian Children.

The Moscow Mechanism has also been vital for accountability - not only for addressing deportations, but for arbitrary detentions of civilians and the treatment of prisoners of war. Collecting evidence and documenting violations is a long process. ODIHR has been doing this work for years now and we are grateful for that. This work will continue.

Dear colleagues,

Our engagement has spanned every region of the OSCE area.

In Moldova, we underlined Moldova's ownership of the Transdniestrian settlement process as well as our support for revitalizing it, through OSCE facilitated dialogue between the sides. We remind Russia of its 1999 Istanbul Summit commitment to withdraw forces and equipment - unconditionally and without delay.

The OSCE and its Mission stand ready to dismantle the Cobasna depot, which also poses an environmental risk to the local population. We have proposed an expert visit to the site.

In the South Caucasus, I witnessed positive developments in the peace process between Armenia and Azerbaijan. In August, we reached a consensus to close the Minsk Structures dealing with the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict-a vital step that supported the peace process and cleared a major obstacle to adopting the OSCE budget.

In Georgia, our commitment to sovereignty and territorial integrity remains firm. Through the Geneva International Discussions and Incident Prevention and Response Mechanism, we advanced engagement with civil society and explored water diplomacy. My visit also addressed democratic backsliding and the essential role of civil society and the freedon of people.

In Central Asia, we supported increasing regional cooperation and shared best practices from the Nordic model of cooperation. The trilateral border agreement between Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan creates more possibilities for regional cooperation. Congratulations for this important step.

In South Eastern Europe, we engaged during critical political moments - supporting Bosnia and Herzegovina's constitutional order, emphasizing social dialogue in Serbia, and backing efforts to resolve Kosovo's political and institutional crisis.

Across the OSCE area, field operations remain essential. They are our ears and eyes on the ground-often where others are absent. From Central Asia to the Western Balkans, they deliver tangible support, be it on environmental security, youth inclusion, or media freedom.

Colleagues,

Finland worked tirelessly to secure an approved OSCE budget for 2025. Our unified proposal gained support from all but one State. In this Organization, it does not take two - nor 56 - but 57 to tango. The same applies to selecting the 2027 Chairpersonship.

We will persist. Because a budget is not just numbers - it is transparency, reform, and the lifeblood of this Organization. And we need strategic foresight beyond a one-year horizon. I urge all of you to engage constructively in selecting the 2027 Chair.

A cornerstone of our Chairpersonship has been the Helsinki+50 Discussions. These discussions reflected on the OSCE's future and reinforced participating States' ownership. Feedback has been overwhelmingly positive.

We also established the Helsinki+50 Fund, which has already attracted pledges of over €17 million from 17 countries - including most major donors. This Fund strengthens the OSCE's operational capacity and strategic focus. This is not just funding - it is a signal of renewed commitment to the OSCE's future. We invite all donors to join this initiative.

This year, we emphasized the importance of OSCE's field operations, autonomous institutions, and civil society. They advance human rights, democracy, and the rule of law - the backbone of comprehensive security.

We launched the OSCE-wide Roadmap on Women, Peace, and Security in May, and today we present the Roadmap on Youth, Peace and Security. We also issued recommendations on engaging civil society and improving accessibility for persons with disabilities.

I encourage all of you to explore these documents further - business cards with corresponding QR codes are available in front of you.

Across the OSCE dimensions:

• Politico-Military: We deepened work on hybrid threats and cybersecurity, mainstreaming support for Ukraine's resilience. We chaired the Forum for Security Cooperation in the last trimester of the year, focusing on accountability and military command roles.
  
• Economic and Environmental: We addressed environmental consequences of Russia's war and the climate-security nexus.
  
• Human Dimension: We prioritized media freedom, media literacy, and protection of human rights defenders - placing Russia's violations at the forefront.

We also worked to enhance the OSCE's preparedness for a post-war scenario in Ukraine. We did contingency planning for a ceasefire and liaised with autonomous institutions on expanding support.

We have spared no effort to secure the release of the three OSCE officials - Vadym Golda, Maksym Petrov, and Dmytro Shabanov - still in detention. Their families wrote to me with a plea that weighs heavily on my heart, and I quote: "We wake each morning with one wish-that our loved ones return to our families, only to endure another day of uncertainty, fear and silence."

Together with the OSCE Secretary General and our partners, we are using every channel - public and private diplomacy - to press for their immediate release. We reiterate this call today: They must be released immediately.

Dear colleagues,

Through Helsinki+50 Discussions, you reaffirmed that the Helsinki principles and the concept of comprehensive security remain valid and vital.

From these discussions, three conclusions stand out:

1. Helsinki principles must continue to guide the OSCE and future discussions on European security.
   
2. The OSCE is a key forum for inclusive dialogue. Principles and commitments should frame the dialogue and efforts to ensure accountability.
   
3. To respond effectively, the OSCE must modernize. Helsinki+50 Discussions have produced concrete proposals-some of them are already under implementation.

But we need to go further. The OSCE must undertake meaningful reform to remain fit for the next 50 years. I look forward to our lunch discussion today on this and propose progress be reviewed again in Lugano in 2026.

Colleagues,

Let me return to where I began: the principles.

In Ukraine, Russia is violating each of the Helsinki principles. I call on all of us to support Ukraine in achieving a just and lasting peace - as soon as possible. Because I am convinced that the way this war ends-and its legitimacy under international law and OSCE principles-will decisively shape the future of peace and stability across the OSCE region and beyond.

We can do better. We can be bolder.

Let us honor the spirit of Helsinki by strengthening the OSCE for decades to come. Let us defend the rules-based order-not only in words, but through actions. And let us ensure this Organization remains capable, credible, and prepared to respond-today and in the future.

Thank you.