Strengthening OSCE-EU co-operation discussed at first annual high-level meeting held in Brussels

Improving institutional interaction and furthering co-operation between the OSCE and the EU in areas of common interest across all three OSCE security dimensions – politico-military, economic and environmental and human – was the focus of the first-ever EU–OSCE annual high-level meeting, held on 12 December in Brussels.

OSCE Secretary General Thomas Greminger, European External Action Service (EEAS) Secretary General Helga Schmid, Director of the OSCE’s Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights Ingibjörg Sólrún Gísladóttir, European Commission Director General for EU Neighbourhood and Enlargement Christian Danielsson and European Commission Director General for International Co-operation and Development Stefano Manservisi highlighted the close partnership between the EU and the OSCE, including its institutions, and their shared interest in maintaining peace and security in Europe and its neighbouring region.

The high-level participants discussed how to strengthen ongoing co-operation and how the structures, institutions and field operations of the two organizations could work together in strategic areas of interest, including conflict prevention and mediation,  preventing/countering violent extremism and radicalization leading to terrorism; countering trafficking in small arms and light weapons, cyber/ICT threats, cybercrime linked to organized crime, rule of law and democratic institutions, election support, the Women, Peace and Security (UNSC 1325) agenda and co-operation on uranium legacy sites.     

An expert discussion held in conjunction with the high-level meeting focused on potential co-operation to further common goals in Eastern Europe, the Western Balkans and Central Asia, including with respect to the European Commission's Strategy for the Western Balkans and the OSCE’s flagship projects in Central Asia, such as its Border Management Staff College. Particular emphasis was put on co-operation between the OSCE and the EEAS on conflict prevention, conflict resolution and peace building.

This inaugural meeting was a follow-up to the exchange of letters signed on 22 June 2018 between the European Commission, the EEAS and the OSCE to enhance operational co-operation, including through regular consultations.