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Meetings and conferences

The Organization’s field operations, institutions and Secretariat regularly hold conferences, meetings and other events to discuss and co-ordinate activities, make decisions, and provide a framework for stakeholder networking, among other things. These events take place across all three OSCE dimensions and throughout the year, in Vienna and other locations.

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Events calendar

Meetings of OSCE decision-making bodies

The OSCE's decision-making bodies meet to set priorities, provide guidance, conduct policy consultations, and generally govern the Organization’s day-to-day work. Most, but not all, meet at regular intervals.

Summit meetings

The highest OSCE decision-making body, the Summit meeting, occurs only at irregular intervals when heads of state or government of the Organization’s participating States meet to set priorities and provide orientation for several years. 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. Review conferences are operational and of short duration.

 

Ministerial Council meetings

Between Summits, the central decision-making and governing body of the OSCE is the Ministerial Council, consisting of the foreign ministers of the participating States. It meets annually, except in years in which a Summit takes place, towards the end of the Chairpersonship year.

 

Plenary meetings of the Permanent Council

Every week, the delegations of the participating States meet in Vienna as the Permanent Council. The Council is the OSCE’s principal decision-making body, where regular political consultations take place and the Organization’s day-to-day operational work is governed.

 

Plenary meetings of the Forum for Security Co-operation

A specialized weekly meeting in Vienna is that of the Forum for Security Co-operation, which deals only with the politico-military dimension of security. It provides a unique platform for the OSCE States to discuss topical security challenges on an equal footing.

Regular meetings within the three dimensions of security

Specialized conferences and meetings deal with issues in the three OSCE security dimensions: the politico-military, the economic and environmental, and the human.

Politico-military meetings and conferences

These meetings provide key opportunities for participating States to review and strengthen security across the Euro-Atlantic and Eurasian regions. Through open dialogue and co-operation, they support the implementation of politico-military commitments, build confidence and contribute to regional stability.

 

Economic and environmental meetings

The most important event in the annual calendar of OSCE events in the second dimension is the Economic and Environmental Forum, which promotes political dialogue on economic and environmental issues linked to security. Through dialogue and information exchange, it aims to develop co-operative solutions, promoting sustainable development and resilience in the OSCE region. Additionally, the participating States meet every year for Economic and Environmental Dimension Implementation Meetings to review the implementation of the States' commitments undertaken through various Ministerial Council decisions.

 

Human rights meetings and seminars

The OSCE holds regular human rights conferences and meetings, as well as other human dimension seminars and events, to provide a platform for participating States, institutions, field operations and other OSCE structures, as well as international organizations and civil society, to exchange their views regarding the challenges and opportunities in this particular dimension.

 

Cross-dimensional meetings and forums

Several OSCE events touch upon all three dimensions and focus on specific thematic areas, such as the fight against trafficking in human beings, cyber/ICT-security threats, and other 21st-century security threats and challenges.

Regular partnership meetings

The OSCE maintains a privileged relationship with its Asian and Mediterranean Partners and organizes regular seminars and conferences with them to discuss issues related to the Organization and regional security.

OSCE Asian and Mediterranean conferences

The OSCE Mediterranean Conference and OSCE Asian Conference, both held annually, are part of the ongoing dialogue between the Organization and its Mediterranean and Asian Partners for Co-operation.

OSCE events calendar

Security through dialogue

Stay informed and get involved in upcoming OSCE conferences, meetings, workshop, seminars and other events that promote security, co-operation and dialogue.

Events calendar