Council of Europe and OSCE leadership revive extended High-Level Meetings to foster effective multilateralism

CHIŞINĂU, 14 May 2026 — Leaders of the Council of Europe (CoE) and the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) met in Chişinău on 14 May 2026 ahead of the 135^th session of the Council of Europe’s Committee of Ministers. Fostering effective multilateralism and leveraging the two organizations’ respective and complementary strengths were at the heart of the discussions led by the President of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Moldova Mihai Popșoi, the OSCE Chairman-in-Office, Head of Switzerland’s Federal Department of Foreign Affairs, Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis, Council of Europe Secretary General Alain Berset and OSCE Secretary General Feridun H. Sinirlioğlu.

Council of Europe President of the Committee of Ministers Popșoi and OSCE CiO Cassis recalled that Russia’s ongoing war against Ukraine continues to have profound implications for European security and to inflict devastating destruction and suffering. The participants reaffirmed their support for a negotiated just and lasting peace, grounded in international law, and respect for fundamental freedoms and human rights common to both Council of Europe and OSCE. 

In this context, the Committee of Ministers’ Presidency and the Secretary General of the Council of Europe reaffirmed their strong support for accountability. Council of Europe Secretary General Alain Berset stressed: “The Council of Europe is helping build accountability for Russia’s war of aggression, where none existed before, while placing democratic resilience at the centre of Ukraine’s recovery and reconstruction.”

Participants emphasised that the current European security environment - marked by the return of high-intensity conflict, growing pressure on democratic institutions, the rise of hybrid threats and increasing polarisation, requires effective, results-oriented multilateralism. In this context, upholding core democratic values, including the rule of law, human rights and electoral integrity, was recognised as essential.

Participants concurred that, in an increasingly fragmented multilateral landscape, stronger co-operation between the OSCE and the Council of Europe is essential, taking into consideration the differences in mandates and membership. Discussions focused on making multilateral action more effective by reinforcing complementarity, avoiding duplication and building on the respective strengths of both organisations.

OSCE Secretary General Feridun H. Sinirlioğlu said: “The OSCE was built on a simple idea: security is shared, dialogue reduces risks and co-operation builds trust. Standing firm on our historic mission of fostering comprehensive security across the OSCE region, we maintain close co-operation with the Council of Europe in important thematic areas: protecting the rights of persons belonging to national minorities, promoting tolerance and non-discrimination, combating trafficking in human beings and the fight against terrorism.” 

Electoral processes were highlighted as an area crucial for strengthening democratic resilience. By building on their complementary mandates and long-standing expertise, the Council of Europe and the OSCE can support credible and transparent electoral processes. Participants also addressed the growing threat of foreign information manipulation and interference (FIMI), acknowledging its impact on public trust, democratic resilience and security. They underlined the need for more systematic responses. 

Council of Europe President of the Committee of Ministers Popșoi said: “Foreign information manipulation strikes at the core of trust and democratic stability. Democracies must learn to respond together.  In the context of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine it is even more important to tackle FIMI in an efficient and coherent approach.”

To ensure practical follow-up, participants tasked the Co-ordination Group between the OSCE and the Council of Europe with identifying concrete opportunities for more results-oriented co-operation by its next meeting in November 2026. 

OSCE Chairman-in-Office Cassis said: “Co-operation between international organisations must become more focused, more practical and more visible for our citizens.”

CONTACT

Council of Europe 

Head of Media Department

Heli Suominen

Email: heli.suominen@coe.int 

OSCE Chairpersonship-in-Office

Press Office Federal Department of Foreign Affairs, Bern

Email: kommunikation@eda.admin.ch

Elisa Raggi

Head of Communications, Permanent Mission of Switzerland to the OSCE

Email: elisa.raggi@eda.admin.ch

OSCE Secretariat

Communication and Media Relations Section

OSCE Secretariat

Email: press@osce.org