Ministerial Council meetings

The first meeting of the OSCE participating States' foreign ministers took place in Helsinki from 3–7 July 1973. In 1990, the Charter of Paris for a New Europe instituted regular meetings of a CSCECSCE
Conference on Security and Co-operation in Europe Council of Foreign Ministers (at least once a year).

The 1992 review meeting and Summit in Helsinki confirmed the Council’s status as the ‘central decision-making and governing body of the CSCE’ and agreed to enhance its working methods and promote effective consultations at its meetings. At the 1994 Budapest Summit, the CSCE Council was renamed the 'Ministerial Council’.

As a rule, the OSCE Ministerial Council convenes annually in the country holding the Chairpersonship. Additional meetings may be called at any time.