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OSCE Chairperson-in-Office

A bell, a gavel and a sign reading Chairman-in-Office on a white conference table.

The foreign minister of the participating State chairing the OSCE is the Chairperson-in-Office and vested with overall responsibility for the Organization’s activities.

A bell, a gavel and a sign reading Chairman-in-Office on a white conference table.

The origin of the institution lies with the Charter of Paris for a New Europe (1990), and the Helsinki Document 1992 formally institutionalized this function. Its responsibility was defined as being responsible “for the co-ordination of and consultation on current CSCECSCE
Conference on Security and Co-operation in Europe
business.” To accomplish these tasks, the Chairman-in-Office (as the function was known back then) can also draw on assistance from the preceding and succeeding Chairpersons, operating together as a Troika

Former Chairpersons-in-Office

Foreign ministers of participating States who have held the CSCE/OSCE Chair since 1991

2024, Malta

2023, North Macedonia

2022, Poland

2021, Sweden

2020, Albania

2019, Slovak Republic

2018, Italy

2017, Austria

2016, Germany

2015, Serbia

2014, Switzerland

2013, Ukraine

2012, Ireland

2011, Lithuania

2010, Kazakhstan

2009, Greece

2008, Finland

2007, Spain

2006, Belgium

2005, Slovenia

2004, Bulgaria

2003, The Netherlands

Jaap de Hoop Scheffer (until 3 December)

Bernard Rudolf Bot (from 3 December)


2002, Portugal

Antonio Martins da Cruz (from 6 April)

Jaime Gama (until 6 April)


2001, Romania

Mircea Dan Geoana


2000, Austria

Benita Ferrero-Waldner (from 10 February)

Wolfgang Schüssel (until 10 February)


1999, Norway

Knut Vollebæk


1998, Poland

Bronislaw Geremek


1997, Denmark

Niels Helveg Petersen


1996, Switzerland

Flavio Cotti


1995, Hungary

László Kovács


1994, Italy

Antonio Martino (from 12 May)

Beniamino Andreatta (until 12 May) 


1993, Sweden

Margaretha af Ugglas


1992, Czechoslovakia

Jozef Moravčík (from 3 July)

Jiří Dienstbier (until 3 July)


1991, Germany

Hans-Dietrich Genscher