EU Statement in Response to the Address by the Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis

1. The European Union warmly welcomes the incoming OSCE Chairperson-in Office, Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis, to the Permanent Council. Switzerland and the EU share history, languages, culture, and political values. We are like-minded actors, supporting each other in a number of areas. Rest assured of the EU’s full support and cooperation as you prepare to assume the Chair of the OSCE, in your efforts to strengthen our Organisation and safeguarding its achievements, along with the collectively agreed principles and commitments on which it is built.

Your Excellency,

2. Your Chairpersonship comes in critical times for European and global security and stability. Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine is ongoing, causing further much suffering, increased civilian casualties and destruction. We welcome Switzerland intention to support the efforts towards achieving a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in Ukraine, grounded in the principles of the UN Charter and international law, as well as of the Helsinki Final Act.
3. The EU firmly believes that upholding and implementing international law and OSCE principles and commitments and ensuring accountability, along with meaningful dialogue, are the only ways to effectively address cross-dimensional challenges, resolve disputes, and achieve peace, security, and stability. Honest and genuine engagement from all participating States is essential to achieving this goal.
4. The 50th anniversary of the Helsinki Final Act, which we marked this year, reconfirmed its continued validity. We reiterate that fundamental principles such as sovereignty, territorial integrity, and the peaceful resolution of disputes are collective obligations that are neither negotiable nor subject to revision or re-interpretation. You can count on our full support in leading efforts to uphold and restore respect for these principles.
5. We strongly support all efforts to preserve the Organisation’s continued engagement in and support to Ukraine. OSCE leadership, executive structures, and autonomous institutions must continue the Organisation’s ongoing assistance to Ukraine, notably through the Support Programme for Ukraine (SPU), ODIHR and RFOM. We also call for accountability for all international crimes and human rights violations and abuses, in the context of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine; thus OSCE, through ODIHR and Human Dimension Mechanisms, can bring its contribution. 
6. We are confident that the Swiss Chairpersonship will continue to address the multifaceted negative cross-regional and cross-dimensional impacts of the war. We believe the OSCE should continue to support all affected countries.
7. We also count on OSCE’s further support to the Republic of Moldova, in strengthening its resilience and stability in the face of persistent destabilising activities, as well as in assisting with the implementation of further reforms.
8. We are also confident the Swiss Chairpersonship will be engaged in supporting peace, stability, democratic values and institutions across OSCE region, in particular in Western Balkans, the Southern Caucasus, and Central Asia.
9. OSCE, through its comprehensive approach, remains essential in assisting participating States address and overcome a wide range of threats, extending beyond military risks, including cybersecurity, foreign information manipulation and interference, and climate security. We look forward to your Chairpersonship contribution to this end. We welcome the intention of Switzerland to focus on the contribution of science to peace and stability.
10. Respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms is crucial to advancing the OSCE’s concept of comprehensive security. We reiterate the vital role civil society organisations and human rights defenders play in ensuring accountability and sustaining vibrant democracies.
11. We strongly support your intention to strengthen the Organisation’s operational capacity and functionality. We look forward to progress on the appointment of the 2027 Chair and express our full support for Cyprus' bid to lead the OSCE in that year in due time.
12. We use this opportunity to restate our unwavering support for the work and mandates of the OSCE field missions, the OSCE Secretariat, and the autonomous institutions—ODIHR, RFoM, and HCNM. We emphasise that it is our shared responsibility to preserve their strong mandates, and guarantee their effective functioning and adequate budgets, as we note with concern the Organisation’s deteriorating financial situation. We support Finland's efforts for the adoption of a unified budget for 2025. We call on all participating States to uphold the commitments they have made and provide the OSCE with adequate resources, enabling it to function effectively across its three dimensions and all its structures. We will also support your efforts in this regard.
13. The challenges in the OSCE region extend beyond its borders, highlighting the importance of strengthening partnerships with our Mediterranean and Asian Partners.
14. In conclusion, we look forward to your Chairpersonship’s political leadership of the OSCE. We wish you and your dedicated team every success.