Monaco has reaffirmed its commitment to international security and cooperation as a delegation from the Principality joined world leaders in Finland to mark the 50th anniversary of the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE).
The conference, held in Helsinki on Thursday, July 31 and Friday, August 1, commemorated five decades since the signing of the historic Helsinki Final Act of 1975. This founding document continues to underpin the OSCE’s mission, even amid today’s turbulent geopolitical climate, dominated by the ongoing war in Ukraine.
Representing Monaco were H.E. Lorenzo Ravano, the Principality’s Permanent Representative to the OSCE, and Jean Laurent Imbert, Deputy Permanent Representative. The pair took part in discussions that reasserted the organisation’s relevance and reiterated the validity of its core principles, particularly its multidimensional approach to security.
The Finnish presidency used the milestone event to unveil the “Helsinki +50” fund, a new financial instrument aimed at enhancing the use of voluntary contributions and supporting tangible projects benefiting vulnerable communities. Sixteen countries have already pledged backing for the initiative.
Civil society also had a seat at the table, with Finland encouraging its active participation in the debates – a reminder that the OSCE’s strength lies not only in state actors but in the engagement of the wider community.
The gathering concluded with the screening of The Helsinki Effect, a 2025 documentary by Arthur Franck, offering a behind-the-scenes look at the negotiations that shaped the 1975 agreement, which was signed by 35 countries, including Monaco.
Half a century on, the OSCE has grown into a pan-European organisation with 57 participating States and 11 partner nations across the Mediterranean and Asia. Monaco’s presence at this anniversary underlined its ongoing support for a forum that remains as vital today as it was during the Cold War.
