Permanent Council

The Permanent Council implements, within its area of competence, tasks defined and decisions taken by OSCE Summits and the Ministerial Council. It meets once a week in Vienna, chaired by the Chairperson-in-Office or his/her representative. The Council is composed of delegates from the 57 participating States, representing the States under the leadership of an Ambassador.

The OSCE’s Partners for Co-operation, as well as representatives of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly and of OSCE executive bodies, may attend and make contributions at the Council meetings. The Council’s Chairperson may invite high-level officials from participating States and other international organizations, institutions and initiatives to address a meeting as guest speakers.

At the Plenary Meetings, the OSCE participating States' delegations regularly discuss and negotiate the political topics relevant to the current security situation in the OSCE region. Delegations may also raise any other issue for discussion. The Council’s Chairperson seeks approval from all delegations for decisions to be taken by the Council. Once there is unanimous consensus on the respective issue, the Council’s decision is taken and becomes politically binding for all participating States.

Decision-making in the OSCE

The Permanent Council has a number of informal subsidiary bodies, including one committee for each of the three dimensions of the OSCE’s security concept, as well as a Preparatory Committee that assists in the Permanent Council’s deliberations and decision-making, and two groups that focus on the relationship with the Organization’s Partners for Co-operation.