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Partners for Co-operation

Graphic logos of the OSCE's Partners for Co-operation

The Organization maintains privileged relations with 12 Asian and Mediterranean states—the Partners for Co-operation—to better address shared security challenges.

Graphic logos of the OSCE's Partners for Co-operation

Quick links

Asian Partners Mediterranean Partners

Overview

The idea that security in the OSCE area is inseparably linked to that of neighbouring regions and can be strengthened through dialogue and the sharing of norms, commitments and expertise, goes back to the earliest days of the Helsinki Process in the early 1970s. Based on this recognition, several Mediterranean States pioneered a special relationship with the OSCE. In the 1990s, the Organization established a similar special relationship with several Asian States.

Although the dialogue with the Partners for Co-operation encompasses the full range of the OSCE’s activities, each group of Partners engages on specific issues of common interest.

Asian Partners for Co-operation

  • Afghanistan
  • Australia
  • Japan
  • Qatar
  • Republic of Korea
  • Thailand

The OSCE Asian Partnership for Co-operation offers a valuable platform for all stakeholders to share experiences and best practices, and to create new synergies. The Asian Partners look towards the OSCE’s comprehensive approach to security, economic connectivity, climate-related security risks, and confidence- and security-building measures as possible sources of inspiration for their own region.

Mediterranean Partners for Co-operation

  • Algeria
  • Egypt
  • Israel
  • Jordan
  • Morocco
  • Tunisia

The OSCE Mediterranean Partners for Co-operation are particularly focused on issues related to climate change and sustainable development, water management, youth and women’s empowerment, transnational threats, migration management, the fight against trafficking of human beings, and intercultural and interreligious dialogue, among other topics. Using this unique regional platform, the OSCE and its Mediterranean Partners have exchanged experiences and best practices on many issues of common interest or concern.

News and activities

Latest activities related to the OSCE Partners for Co-operation

Four people sitting at a conference table with microphones and nameplates, engaged in discussion.
News Item

Strengthening cyber resilience and digital trust: OSCE and Asian Partners address the security challenges of AI

Representatives of OSCE participating States, Asian and Mediterranean Partners for Co-operation, international organizations and experts from government, academia, civil society and the private sector gathered in Vienna today for the Fifth Inter-Regional Conference on Cyber/ICT Security, “The AI-Cyberspace Nexus: Promise, Peril and the Next Generation”.
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OSCE participating States and Asian Partners discuss AI and technology-facilitated trafficking in human beings

Representatives of OSCE participating States and Asian Partners for Co-operation gathered in Vienna today to examine the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) and emerging technologies on trafficking in human beings.The meeting of the Asian Partners for Co-operation Group (APCG), held under the theme “Artificial Intelligence and Human Security: Combating Technology-Facilitated Trafficking in Human Beings across Asia and the OSCE Region,” was chaired by Finland, in its capacity as Chair of the APCG, and co-organized with the Republic of Korea. 
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Amplifying youth voices for a safer future: OSCE and USI explore multilateral co-operation and science diplomacy

From 2 to 4 November in Lugano, the OSCE Secretariat, in co-operation with Università della Svizzera italiana (USI) brought together young participants from OSCE participating States and Mediterranean Partners for Co-operation for a three-day workshop to explore the role of youth in strengthening dialogue, diplomacy and multilateral co-operation.
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Partnership Fund

Supporting co-operation with OSCE Partners

Established by the OSCE Permanent Council Decision No. 812 on 30 November 2007, the Partnership Fund is the main tool for supporting OSCE activities and projects with the Asian and Mediterranean Partners for Co-operation, using extrabudgetary contributions, and acts as a central repository for sponsoring work that advances the two Partnerships. It receives new pledges for future initiatives and holds unallocated funds from both participating and Partner States, which can later be directed to specific projects and initiatives.

Events

Past and upcoming events and conferences

All events

Discover meetings and conferences with the OSCE Partners for Co-operation

ongoing dialogue and joint activities

The OSCE organizes regular conferences and seminars with its Asian Partners and Mediterranean Partners to discuss topics related to activities and areas of common interest. Explore past events in our events calendar. 

Past events