The signing of the Helsinki Final Act at the Conference on Security and Co-operation in Europe (CSCE) on 1 August 1975 was one of the most significant events of the détente years.

In order to preserve the momentum generated by the historic East-West rapprochement, the Act also provided for Follow-up Meetings to the CSCE.

One of the main aims of these meetings was to enable the participating States to exchange views "both on the implementation of the provisions of the Final Act and of the tasks defined by the Conference."

Deepening of mutual relations

The participating States would also discuss "the deepening of their mutual relations, the improvement of security and the development of co-operation in Europe, and the development of the process of détente in the future."

The first Follow-up Meeting to the CSCE was held in the Yugoslav capital Belgrade and lasted from 4 October 1977 to 8 March 1978.

Agreement was reached on the holding of a number of subsequent meetings, including a Scientific Forum and a Meeting of Experts on the Mediterranean.

During the 1980s, further Follow-up Meetings were held in Madrid (11 November 1980 to 9 September 1983) and Vienna (4 November 1986 to 19 January 1989).