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50 Years of the Helsinki Final Act: A Compass in Turbulent Times
The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) celebrated the 50th anniversary of the signing of the Helsinki Final Act with a series of high-profile events in Helsinki, featuring speeches by Finland's Minister for Foreign Affairs, Elina Valtonen, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. The historic pact, signed in 1975 amid the Cold War, is hailed by heads of state and government as a fundamental document for European security and cooperation. Despite serious challenges, particularly Russia's war against Ukraine, the continued relevance of the Helsinki principles was reaffirmed.
The 2025 OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Finland Elina Valtonen, addresses the Helsinki+50 Conference in Helsinki. / Picture: © OSCE / Finland Ministry for Foreign Affairs/Markku Pajunen/ ID 595879, (CC BY-ND 4.0)
The Helsinki Final Act, signed on August 1, 1975, established the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe (CSCE), the predecessor of today's OSCE. It laid down ten fundamental principles, which became known as the “Helsinki Ten.” These include respect for state sovereignty, territorial integrity, non-use of force, peaceful settlement of disputes, and respect for human…
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