OSCE Chairperson-in-Office Linde announces new OSCE commitments on climate

STOCKHOLM, 3 December 2021 – For the first time, the OSCE participating States have agreed on how to work together to deal with the challenges caused by climate change.

“This is truly ground-breaking. Climate change is the defining issue of our time, and we all need to do our share. The OSCE, as the world’s largest regional security organization, has an important part to play in finding preventing and mitigating measures that can make a difference for the security of the people in the OSCE region,” Chairperson-in-Office Ann Linde said.

She also welcomed the adoption of the Ministerial Statement on the Negotiations on the Transdniestrian Settlement Process in the “5+2” format.

“This week we have also taken a historic decision when we agreed that Finland will chair the OSCE in 2025, 50 years after the Helsinki Final Act. I am proud that this decision has been taken under our period as Chair”, she added.

Summing up, Chairperson Linde, said she was satisfied with the outcome, with approximately 50 Foreign Ministers and several other high-level delegates participating in the Stockholm meeting. She stressed that the participation “shows the commitment to this organization that we, the participating States share and the importance we attach to it”, and expressed her gratitude towards all those who had engaged in important dialogue and all others who had worked hard with the successful 28th Ministerial Council. 

Linde underlined that the Swedish Chairpersonship had defended and upheld the common principles and commitments of the OSCE throughout the year and engaged in intense dialogue and used the diplomatic tools available to respond to crises, tensions and conflicts.

“We are very proud that we have held gender equality and women, peace and security high on the organization’s agenda. We have concretely shown how these issues can be integrated into the everyday work of the organization, for example during meetings and official travel of the Chairpersonship. I feel confident that this focus has left a firm platform for the incoming Chair to stand on in the organization’s continued efforts to ensure the OSCE remains a relevant player for our security. We welcome the Polish incoming Chair and we will be there in the Troika to support them in whatever way we can”, she said.

Incoming OSCE Chairperson-in-Office and Poland’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Zbigniew Rau said: “I would like to thank the Swedish CiO for their leadership which combined commitment to the OSCE principles and values with the innovative elements of the agenda, together with efforts to make OSCE more visible. In four weeks Poland will start its Chairmanship in the OSCE, with determination to reinforce engagement within the Organization and support all efforts for transnational security and stability.”

He added: “We are aware of the scale of tasks that await us in the year 2022. What we cannot predict at the moment is the exact scale of the challenges that we will face. However, I am convinced that in December next year we will meet again with the feeling of fulfilment and participation in a meaningful chapter of the OSCE’s history. We look forward to presenting the Polish Chairmanship programme in January in Vienna.”

OSCE Secretary General Helga Maria Schmid added: "I take real positives from this Ministerial Council. Firstly, many Ministers agreed on the pressing need to mitigate the risks to our region stemming from the dire situation in Afghanistan and we will bring forward proposals to them on how the OSCE can do so. Secondly, the adoption of the new Ministerial Decision on climate change brings new momentum to the OSCE's work in this area. Climate change is a threat multiplier and the OSCE is committed to advancing our work on joint responses to strengthen climate resilience.”

Schmid also welcomed the incoming Polish Chairperson-in-Office, stating that he could expect the full support of the OSCE Secretariat during its Chairpersonship.