The Forum for Security Co-operation (FSC) was established by the participating States at the Helsinki Summit in 1992. With this decision, they agreed to start new negotiations on arms control, disarmament and confidence- and security-building measures (CSBMs). They also agreed to enhance regular consultation and intensify co-operation on security issues, working to reduce the risk of conflict.

Throughout the 1990s, the Forum for Security Co-operation agreed on many documents and decisions on disarmament and confidence-building. Two of the most important are the Vienna Document 1999 and the Code of Conduct on Politico-Military Aspects of Security.

In 2000, the Forum negotiated the Document on Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALW), a landmark agreement that aims to combat the destabilizing accumulation and uncontrolled spread of these weapons.

In 2003, the Forum developed the OSCE Document on Stockpiles of Conventional Ammunition (SCA). With this, the FSC seeks to address security risks arising from stockpiles of ammunition, explosive materials and detonating devices in surplus and/or awaiting destruction in the OSCE area.