Economic and environmental matters have always been a part of the OSCE agenda, reflecting the Organization's comprehensive approach to security.

The Helsinki Final Act

In the Helsinki Final Act (1975), the participating States divided the CSCE's (now OSCE) areas of activity into three dimensions (or baskets). The second dimension is the Economic and Environmental Dimension, dealing with issues such as economic development, science, technology and environmental protection in their relation to international security.

Follow-up meetings

During the CSCE era, three meetings focused specifically on economic, scientific and environmental issues: a Scientific Forum in Hamburg in 1980, a Meeting on the Protection of the Environment in Sofia in 1989, and - most importantly - the Conference on Economic Co-operation in Europe in Bonn in 1990.

The 1990 Bonn Conference

The 1990 Bonn Conference on Economic Co-operation in Europe was one of the landmark events in the evolution of the CSCE's and, later, the OSCE's economic dimension. In the so-called Bonn Document, the participating States expressed their commitment to the principles of the market, thus opening the way for improved economic co-operation.

Strengthening the OSCE's Economic and Environmental Dimension

As more participating States began the process of transforming their economies from State centralism to market-based capitalism, a new interest in closer co-operation on economic questions in the OSCE began to develop. As a result, the participating States began to seek an increased role for the OSCE in economic and environmental matters. This resulted in three important developments: the establishment of the Economic Forum (renamed Economic and Environmental Forum in 2006), the creation of the post of the Co-ordinator of OSCE Economic and Environmental Activities and the establishment of the Economic and Environmental Committee of the Permanent Council.

Addressing economic and environmental threats and challenges to security

Over the past decade, many OSCE countries have made considerable progress in achieving the common objectives set out in the 1990 Bonn Document. However, these achievements were sometimes uneven within and among OSCE participating States. The transition process has also been accompanied by the emergence of economic and environmental threats to security and stability.

In response to these threats and challenges, OSCE participating States adopted the OSCE Strategy Document for the Economic and Environmental Dimension at the Maastricht Ministerial Council in December 2003. In this forward-looking document, participating States committed themselves to closer co-operation in the fields of economic co-operation, good governance, sustainable development and protecting the environment.

Timeline

2006 - Economic Forum renamed Economic and Environmental Forum

2003 - OSCE Strategy Document for the Economic and Environmental Dimension adopted at the Ministerial Council Meeting in Maastricht

2001 - Economic and Environmental Sub-Committee of the Permanent Council established

1997 - Post of Co-ordinator of OSCE Economic and Environmental Activities established

1994 - Post of Economic Adviser established at the OSCE Secretariat

1992 - Economic Forum established

1990 - Conference on Economic Co-operation in Europe, Bonn

1989 - Meeting on the Protection of the Environment, Sofia

1980 - Scientific Forum in Hamburg

1975 - Helsinki Final Act