- The European Union warmly welcomes H.E. Ms. Beate Meinl-Reisinger, Minister for European and International Affairs of Austria, to the Permanent Council. We thank Austria, as host country, for the support provided to the OSCE, including with regard to the premises where we are meeting today. Your generosity is much appreciated. We also recall Austria’s leadership and achievements at the helm of the organisation in 2017.
- The EU highly values Austria’s steadfast commitment to multilateralism and to defending the rules-based international order, which are core principles of the EU’s external policy. The European Union firmly believes that upholding and implementing international law and OSCE principles and commitments, ensuring accountability, strengthening international organizations, and promoting meaningful dialogue and cooperation are the only ways to effectively address cross-dimensional challenges, resolve disputes, and achieve peace, security, and stability.
- We therefore support all efforts aimed at strengthening OSCE and safeguarding its achievements, along with the collectively agreed principles and commitments on which it is built. 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.
Your Excellency,
- You are addressing the Permanent Council in critical times for European and global security and stability. Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine is ongoing, continuing to cause horrendous suffering, ever-increasing civilian casualties and destruction. The European Union supports all 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. Russia must demonstrate willingness to end its attacks and come to the negotiation table.
- We strongly believe the Organisations hould preserve its continued engagement in and support to Ukraine. We express our appreciation of the Support Programme for Ukraine and its projects, to which the European Union and many of its Member States, including Austria, are donors. Further addressing the challenges to civilians posed by the war and supporting the long-term democratic and social resilience of Ukraine remain essential. We also call for accountability for all international crimes and human rights violations and abuses, to which the OSCE, through ODIHR and the Human Dimension Mechanisms, is well-placed to contribute.
- Lasting and comprehensive security in our region cannot be sustained without respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, democracy, and the rule of law. As we continue to witness democratic backsliding in parts of the OSCE area, the autonomous institutions deserve our steadfast support.
- We also believe the OSCE should reinforce its contribution to fostering peace and security across the region and to assisting participating States address and overcome a wide range of threats and challenges.
- It is therefore our collective responsibility to ensure the effective functioning of the organisation, to preserve the mandates of the OSCE autonomous institutions and field presences and guarantee their adequate budgets.
- In conclusion, we also express our gratitude to Austria for all the support provided to the OSCE Chairpersonship of Finland, as the incoming Ministerial Council will be held here in Vienna.