Confidence- and security-building

The OSCE’s co-operative approach to security is based on the tenet that security and stability can be achieved through greater military transparency and openness, exchange of military information, and by providing a platform for dialogue for the peaceful resolution of disputes.

By increasing transparency, agreed confidence- and security-building measures (CSBMs) enhance military predictability and reduce chances of military incidents and misunderstandings, building trust and confidence and strengthening the culture of prevention among OSCE participating States.

The measures contained in the Vienna Document, one of the key pillars of the European security architecture, include provisions for military information exchange on annual calendars, defence planning, doctrines and budget, as well as notifications on certain military activities, such as exercises and deployment. The Vienna Document also provides opportunities for various forms of military co-operation, including for mutual visits to military facilities, observation of certain activities and demonstrations of new weapons systems. 

Transparency

• Annual exchange of military information through the OSCE Communications Network
• Annual calendars
• Defence budget and planning
• Notifications on military activities

Verification

• Inspection and evaluation visits
• Observations of certain military activities
• Military contacts

Co-operation

• Agreements on constraining provisions pertaining to military activities
• Consultation and co-operation in cases of unusual military activity or increasing tensions
• Implementation assessments

The OSCE Conflict Prevention Centre shares monthly, quarterly and annual implementation reports of the CSBMsCSBMs
Confidence- and security-building measures’ implementation, developed through its Information Management and Reporting System (iMARS), a database–driven web application hosted on an OSCE internal network serving OSCE participating States with overviews of the military information exchange.