Summit meetings

Summit meetings only occur at irregular intervals, when the heads of state or government decide such a gathering is needed to set priorities and provide orientation for several years. There are no general rules determining how often Summits are to take place. Any participating State can propose a Summit. The decision to hold it, like all OSCE decisions, must be taken by consensus. Between summits, decision-making and governing powers lie with the Ministerial Council.

The first Summit of the then-CSCE took place in Helsinki from 30 July–1 August 1975. At the event, the original 35 participating States adopted the CSCE’s fundamental document, the Helsinki Final Act. The second CSCE Summit, held in Paris in November 1990, laid the foundations of the institutionalization process that transformed the CSCE into today’s OSCE. Five subsequent Summits were held in Helsinki (1992), Budapest (1994), Lisbon (1996), Istanbul (1999) and Astana (2010). Each of these events produced declarations and documents that are important milestones in the history of the Organization.

Summits are preceded by Review Conferences, at which the OSCE’s entire range of activities is reviewed and a decision-oriented document is prepared for adoption at the Summit meeting.