Ministerial Council 2017
Final Decisions and Declarations
The following final decisions and declarations were adopted at the 24th OSCE Ministerial Council in Vienna:
- Decision on the appointment of the OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities
- Decision on the appointment of the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media
- Decision on the appointment of the Director of the Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights
- Decision on the appointment of the OSCE Secretary General
- Decision on enhancing OSCE efforts to reduce the risk of conflict stemming from the use of Information and Communication Technologies
- Decisionon strengthening efforts to prevent trafficking in human beings
- Decision on strengthening efforts to combat all forms of child trafficking, including for sexual exploitation, as well as other forms of sexual exploitation of children
- Ministerial statement on the negotiations on the Transdniestrian settlement process in the "5+2" format
- Decision on promoting economic participation in the OSCE Area
- Decision on the time and place of the next Meeting of the OSCE Ministerial Council
- Decision on small arms and light weapons and stockpiles of conventional ammunition
Latest News
- Decisions on cyber security, small arms and conventional ammunition, combating human trafficking, economic participation at OSCE Ministerial Council
- Austrian OSCE Chairmanship appeals for protection of civilians in eastern Ukraine
- OSCE’s work in fighting illicit trafficking of small arms and light weapons is an important part of global anti-terrorism efforts, say speakers at Ministerial Council side event
- OSCE participating States discussed current and future European security challenges
- States should make use of OSCE in countering violent extremism and radicalization that leads to terrorism, says OSCE Chairperson-in-Office Kurz
- Vienna Ministerial Council side event explores mainstreaming Youth, Peace and Security Agenda into policy development
- Joint Statement by the Heads of Delegation of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chair Countries
- OSCE and EBRD to deepen co-operation on promoting good governance, connectivity and economic development
- OSCE is indispensable for security in Europe, today more than ever, says OSCE Chairperson-in-Office Kurz at opening of Vienna Ministerial Council
- OSCE Chairperson-in-Office Kurz receives civil society recommendations ahead of Vienna Ministerial Council
- OSCE Ministerial Council to tackle current security issues in Vienna on Thursday 7 and Friday 8 December 2017
- Media accreditation open for the 24th OSCE Ministerial Council
#OSCEMC17 online
Facebook Live Conference Resources and DocumentsPlenary sessions recordings (YouTube)
- Facebook: @osce.org
- Facebook: @Aussenministerium
- Twitter: @OSCE
- Twitter: @AUT_OSCE
- Twitter: @MFA_Austria
- Flickr: bit.ly/OSCEMC17photos
- Flickr: flickr.com/photos/minoritenplatz8
- HD Video footage: http://medien.mc2017.at/
What's it all about?
From 7 to 8 December 2017, OSCE Foreign Ministers will convene in Vienna, Austria, for the annual Ministerial Council, to consider issues relevant to the organization and take the appropriate decisions.
OSCE Ministerial Council
The Ministerial Council was established by the Charter of Paris for a New Europe (1990) under the original name of "Council of Ministers for Foreign Affairs". The 1992 Helsinki Document reaffirmed its role as the central decision-making and governing body of the OSCE and gave it more extensive powers in the field of conflict prevention and crisis management. The 1994 Budapest Document renamed it "Ministerial Council" and fully confirmed its pivotal political role.
Learn more about the OSCE Ministerial Council
Watch our videos to learn more about the OSCE Ministerial Council.
Bringing together foreign ministers and delegations from the 57 OSCE participating States, the two-day Council occurs near the end of every year and in the final stages of each chairmanship. It acts as the main central decision-making and governing body in the period between OSCE summits and provides a rare opportunity for participating States and 11 Partners for Co-operation to engage in high-level multilateral and bilateral talks on their current security relations and concerns.
This page is an overview of the events leading up to and during the 24th OSCE Ministerial Council which took place on 7-8 December 2017 in Vienna, Austria. Follow the discussion online on Twitter @AUT_OSCE and @OSCE or using #OSCEMC17 hashtag.
Next week, foreign ministers from across the OSCE region will meet in Vienna, Austria, for the 24th OSCE Ministerial Council. Check out our latest infographic to find out if your city hosted one of the previous Ministerial Councils. #OSCEMC17 pic.twitter.com/rz25phdOwP
— OSCE (@OSCE) December 3, 2017
December 5 and 6: Preparations
Kicking off the 24th #OSCE Ministerial Council #OSCEMC17 at the #Hofburg in #Vienna with #osce17AUT #teammeetings to talk about content as well as logistics; Looking forward to the exciting days ahead pic.twitter.com/kuROlZeCX1
— Austria≫OSCEChair17 (@AUT_OSCE) December 5, 2017
The 24th #OSCE Ministerial Council in Vienna is tomorrow! There are lots of ways to follow discussions and stay up to date. @AUT_OSCE #OSCEMC17 https://t.co/LPBIgpBTI4 pic.twitter.com/8WOCwikGnn
— OSCE (@OSCE) December 6, 2017
SecGen @gremingerosce to @oscepa Bureau: Time to move away from zero nominal growth to embrace new challenges and opportunities. #OSCEMC17 pic.twitter.com/QWCkmo0u5U
— OSCE (@OSCE) December 6, 2017
#Parallel #CivilSociety Conference organised by @CivicSolidarity just presented its recommendations & #ViennaDeclaration to #OSCE Chairman @sebastiankurz; he commended firm commitment & dedicated work for the OSCE as a whole #OSCEPC17 #OSCECM17 #osce17AUT pic.twitter.com/CPyPpRpFfq
— Austria≫OSCEChair17 (@AUT_OSCE) December 6, 2017
18:51 - PRESS RELEASE: OSCE Chairperson-in-Office Kurz receives civil society recommendations ahead of Vienna Ministerial Council
OSCE Chairperson-in-Office @sebastiankurz receives civil society recommendations ahead of Vienna Ministerial Council https://t.co/y9LzpMZVko #OSCEMC17 @AUT_OSCE pic.twitter.com/B2nfSwT2zh
— OSCE (@OSCE) December 6, 2017
December 7: Day 1
08:25 - We will be posting live updates on this page today and tomorrow, with the latest from the 24th OSCE Ministerial Counci in Vienna. Follow the discussion online on Twitter @AUT_OSCE and @OSCE or using #OSCEMC17 hashtag. Watch live at www.osce.org/live and on Facebook.
8:30 - 2017 OSCE Chairperson-in-Office and Austria’s Foreign Minister Sebastian Kurz welcomes Heads of Delegations to the 24th OSCE Ministerial Council in Vienna.
Welcome to Vienna! The #MinisterialCouncil meeting #OSCEMC17 gets going. @OSCE Chairperson in Office #Austrian #ForeignMinister @sebastiankurz welcomes the Heads of Delegation to the venue at #Vienna’s # Hofburg pic.twitter.com/EunTYhqoYo
— Austria≫OSCEChair17 (@AUT_OSCE) December 7, 2017
09:45 - Foreign Ministers and Heads of Delegations of the OSCE participating States pose for the traditional family photo.
Before the opening session of #OSCEMC17 all Heads of Delegations of 57 OSCE participating States gather in the grand “Zeremoniensaal” of the Hofburg in #Vienna for a group #photo #osce17AUT pic.twitter.com/Ge3rlEow79
— Austria≫OSCEChair17 (@AUT_OSCE) December 7, 2017
10:00 - Opening session begins, immediately followed by the first plenary session. Watch live at www.osce.org/live and on OSCE Facebook page.
#osce Secretary General @gremingerosce: “#security begins with trust & trust begins with #dialogue. This is impulse that drove #Helsinkiprocess. It is high time we revive it today.” pic.twitter.com/qDnPenByig
— OSCE (@OSCE) December 7, 2017
11:15 - PRESS RELEASE: OSCE is indispensable for security in Europe, today more than ever, says OSCE Chairperson-in-Office Kurz at opening of Vienna Ministerial Council
Interesting discussion on different views on the past at #OSCEMC17 #SideEvent on "The Road to the Charter of #Paris: Divergent Narratives and Lessons for the #OSCE Today" presenting results of a project of @OSCE Network of #ThinkTanks and Academic Institutions pic.twitter.com/S25jgN2Tjc
— Austria≫OSCEChair17 (@AUT_OSCE) December 7, 2017
Meanwhile, on the sidelines:
The “Youth, peace and security” event is taking stock of ongoing implementation activities & policy development of the #Youth and #Security agenda across the @OSCE area and beyond. #OSCEMC17 @OSCEyouthSR @ak_deininger @matteopugliese @NG_Schernbeck @MehmedAlajbeg @asifsafdary pic.twitter.com/w9PbLXBgiB
— Austria≫OSCEChair17 (@AUT_OSCE) December 7, 2017
OSCE and @EBRD to deepen co-operation on promoting #goodgovernance, connectivity and economic development. MoU signed in #Vienna today. PRESS RELEASE > https://t.co/Uk6fGozAYW #OSCEMC17 pic.twitter.com/IBnPgmufQJ
— OSCE (@OSCE) December 7, 2017
14:13 - PRESS RELEASE: OSCE and EBRD to deepen co-operation on promoting good governance, connectivity and economic development
15:15 - Second plenary session begins, watch live at www.osce.org/live and on OSCE Facebook page.
16:30 - PRESS RELEASE: Joint Statement by the Heads of Delegation of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chair Countries
Continuity and partnership provide value added to the OSCE field operations and host countries - message from #OSCEMC17 side event with SG @gremingerosce on OSCE making difference on the ground. pic.twitter.com/aiJ4vbggRP
— OSCE (@OSCE) December 7, 2017
18:37 - PRESS RELEASE: Vienna Ministerial Council side event explores mainstreaming Youth, Peace and Security Agenda into policy development
#OSCEMC17 field operations side-event. Participants highlight opportunities beyond crisis response; need for resources and to give FOs space to act. pic.twitter.com/yZkcav4YDD
— Thomas Greminger (@gremingerosce) December 7, 2017
19:52 - PRESS RELEASE: States should make use of OSCE in countering violent extremism and radicalization that leads to terrorism, says OSCE Chairperson-in-Office Kurz
21:35 - PRESS RELEASE: OSCE participating States discussed current and future European security challenges
December 8: Day 2
Third plenary session begins, watch live at www.osce.org/live and on OSCE Facebook page.
13:02 - The adoption of decisions and declarations by the OSCE Ministerial Council is currently underway
Concluding session begins, watch live at www.osce.org/live and on OSCE Facebook page.
Efforts of @AUT_OSCE in the field of confidence- & security-building measures were in focus of an event on the margins of #OSCEMC17. These efforts, throughout 2017, included 1st intersessional dialogue on military doctrines and workshops on CSBMs. pic.twitter.com/fDNt6iHSev
— OSCE (@OSCE) December 8, 2017
Chairperson-in-Office #ForeignMinister @sebastiankurz thanks delegations for their support throughout the year and the #osce17AUT Team for their dedicated work and wishes the best of luck to the incoming @ItalyatOSCE Chairmanship #ItalyOSCE18 @angealfa @ItalyMFA pic.twitter.com/oGFII0oCbI
— Austria≫OSCEChair17 (@AUT_OSCE) December 8, 2017
14:30 -Concluding press conference begins, watch live at www.osce.org/live and on OSCE Facebook page.
Chairperson-in-Office @sebastiankurz and Secretary General @gremigerosce now hold final press statements after the closing of #OSCEMC17 pic.twitter.com/8lVqMTmSag
— Austria≫OSCEChair17 (@AUT_OSCE) December 8, 2017
“#OSCE needs to be prepared to respond to crises in timely way but also seize opportunities for new engagement: cooperation in South East Asia, development in South East Europe...# says #Secretary General @gremingerosce
— OSCE (@OSCE) December 8, 2017
16:25 - PRESS RELEASE: Austrian OSCE Chairmanship appeals for protection of civilians in eastern Ukraine
16:41 - PRESS RELEASE: Decisions on cyber security, small arms and conventional ammunition, combating human trafficking, economic participation at OSCE Ministerial Council