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Who We Are

The 1990s

The Paris Summit of Heads of State in 1990 marked the start of the institutionalization of the CSCE and its transformation into the OSCE. (George Bush Presidential Library)
The institutionalization of the CSCE begins with the Summit of Heads of State in Paris in November 1990; numerous field operations and other bodies are rapidly set up. What began as a Conference becomes a full-fledged Organization on 1 January 1995.

With the end of the Cold War, the Heads of State of the Conference on Security and Co-operation in Europe (CSCE) were optimistic that the long years of division and confrontation could at last be put behind them when they meet in Paris in 1990 for what was only their second Summit.

The process of transforming and institutionalizing the CSCE to meet the challenges of the new Europe got under way - but it soon became clear that confrontation was not a thing of the past, as bloody conflicts broke out in various regions.

At the Budapest Summit in December 1994, the institutionalization process was capped by the renaming of the CSCE to the OSCE, marking its transition from a Conference to a fully-fledged international organization.

Throughout the 1990s, the CSCE/OSCE continued to set up numerous institutions and field operations with the aim of helping to prevent such conflicts, as well as to resolve them and to assist in post-conflict rehabilitation.

Economic Co-operation Conference, Bonn
<strong>19 March to 11 April 1990:</strong> The Conference on Economic Co-operation in Europe, one of the landmark events in the development of the CSCE/OSCE's economic dimension, is held in Bonn.
Second Heads of State Summit, Paris
<strong>19-21 November 1990:</strong> the Cold War is over and the CSCE needs to reinvent itself. The Second Heads of State Summit produces the Charter of Paris for a New Europe, kick-starting the institutionalization process.
CSCE Parliamentary Assembly set up
<strong>2-3 April 1991:</strong> Parliamentary leaders from the participating States meet in Madrid to discuss establishing a CSCE Parliamentary Assembly, which holds its first annual session in Budapest in July 1992.
First Council of Ministers, Berlin
<strong>19-20 June 1991:</strong> As set out in the Charter of Paris 1990, the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the participating States meet for the first time as the CSCE Council of Ministers in Berlin.
Expansion of the CSCE/OSCE
<strong>30-31 January 1992:</strong> At the second Council of Ministers meeting, ten former Soviet Republics are welcomed as participating States, and the Office for Free Elections becomes the Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights.
Signing of Treaty on Open Skies
<strong>24 March 1992:</strong> The Treaty on Open Skies, setting out the framework for a regime of observation flights over the territory of participating States, is signed in Helsinki. The CSCE also issues a Declaration on the Treaty.
Third Heads of State Summit, Helsinki
<strong>9-10 July 1992:</strong> Against a background of renewed conflict in the Balkans, the third Summit of Heads of State is held in Helsinki, the final document of which is entitled The Challenges of Change.
First CSCE field operations deployed
<strong>8 September 1992:</strong> The three Missions of Long Duration in Kosovo, Sandjak and Vojvodina become the first of the Organization's numerous field operations to be deployed.
First Secretary General appointed
<strong>15 June 1993:</strong> The CSCE's first Secretary General, Dr. Wilhelm Höynck of Germany, takes up his official duties, following the establishment of the post at the Stockholm Meeting of the Council of Ministers in December 1992.
Secretariat established in Vienna
<strong>29 November 1993:</strong> At its 24th Meeting, the Committee of Senior Officials decides to establish the CSCE Secretariat in the Austrian capital Vienna, with an office in Prague.
Fourth Heads of State Summit, Budapest
<strong>5-6 December 1994:</strong> At the Budapest Heads of State Summit, the CSCE finally becomes an organization - the OSCE - in order to better reflect the broad range and depth of the work that it is now doing.
Signing of Dayton Peace Accords
<strong>14 December 1995:</strong> The signing of the Dayton Peace Accords mandates the OSCE to help elaborate and implement three instruments that play a major role in post-conflict rehabilitation in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Fifth Heads of State Summit, Lisbon
<strong>2-3 December 1996:</strong> The fifth Heads of State Summit - the first under the OSCE name - takes place in Lisbon, adopting the Declaration on a Common and Comprehensive Security Model for Europe for the Twenty-First Century.
Media Freedom Representative established
<strong>5 November 1997:</strong> The Permanent Council sets out the mandate of the Representative on Freedom of the Media. Freimut Duve of Germany becomes the first holder of the post in January of the following year.
Sixth Heads of State Summit, Istanbul
<strong>18-19 November 1999:</strong> The OSCE Heads of State gather in Istanbul for their Sixth Summit, where they sign the Charter for European Security and adopt the Istanbul Summit Declaration.