Helsinki+50 Conference: Respecting the Legacy, Preparing for the Future

HELSINKI, 21 July 2025 - To mark the 50th anniversary of the Helsinki Final Act, Finland will organize a conference at Finlandia Hall on 31 July 2025. The Helsinki+50 Conference will be hosted by the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Finland, Elina Valtonen. There will be a number of high-level speakers, including at the level of Foreign Minister.

The Helsinki Final Act was revolutionary at a time when the Cold War and the Iron Curtain divided Europe in two, and ideological confrontation was at its peak. While the Helsinki+50 Conference respects and pays tribute to the legacy of Helsinki 1975, it also reminds us that the OSCE’s shared principles are not merely memories of the past but must continue to guide us even in turbulent times. The conference will highlight the role of civil society in advancing respect for the OSCE principles and commitments.

The Finnish Chairpersonship has invited representatives of the OSCE participating States, OSCE Partners for Co-operation, OSCE executive structures, and OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, as well as representatives of civil society and international organizations to participate in the Helsinki+50 Conference.

The conference will be streamed live. The link to the livestream can be found on the conference webpage.

Information for the media

Representatives of the media are welcome to follow the event. A media center with working space for the media will be provided at Finlandia Hall.

During the conference, there will be several photo opportunities, and arrangements will be made to facilitate media meetings with high-level guests. Advance registration is required for media engagements, which will be pooled and allocated based on availability.

Before the conference, the media will also have an opportunity to participate in a special programme organized by the City of Helsinki. More information can be found on the registration form.

The registration for media closes on Wednesday 23rd of July at 12 pm (Finnish time, CET+1).

Accreditation is required for access to the event, the media program, and for participation in a special program organized by the city of Helsinki. Please note that registration does not guarantee automatic entry. Media will be notified of their accreditation status separately.

Media inquiries

Toni Sandell, Spokesperson and Deputy Head of the Task Force for the 2025 Finnish OSCE Chairpersonship, Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland

Tel. +358 295 350 748, toni.sandell@gov.fi

Inquiries regarding media accreditation

Miia Vihola, Communications Officer, Communications Unit, Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland

 Tel. +358 295 350 680, Miia.Vihola@gov.fi

Ainomaija Mikola, Communications Specialist, Communications Unit, Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland

Tel. +358 50 304 2238, Ainomaija.Mikola@gov.fi