Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe- Home
At a glance
Library
Summits / Ministerial Councils
16th OSCE Ministerial Council, Helsinki, 4 and 5 December 2008
Finnish Prime Minister, Matti Vanhanen (r), speaks at the end of the 16th OSCE Ministerial Council with Finnish Foreign Minister and OSCE Chairman-in-Office Alexander Stubb on his right, Helsinki, 5 December 2008 (Petri Krook)
When: 4 December 2008
Latest press releases
5 December 2008: OSCE 'revitalized' at Helsinki Ministerial Council, high-level talks on European security to continue
4 December 2008: Finnish Chairman calls on OSCE ministers to strengthen Organization
3 December 2008: European security, Georgia top agenda of Helsinki Ministerial Council, says OSCE Chairman-in-Office
Multimedia coverage
Video highlights of the Ministerial Council are available on the OSCE website multimedia portal and the official OSCE channel on YouTube.
The website of the Finnish Foreign Ministry has a collection of archived webcasts as well as speeches and audio files.
Background information
The Ministerial Council is the central decision-making and governing body of the OSCE. Convened in years when there is no OSCE Summit, it allows the Foreign Ministers of OSCE participating States to review and assess the activities of the Organization.
Finland holds the OSCE Chairmanship in 2008. This year's Ministerial Council took place in Helsinki on Thursday 4 and Friday 5 December.