Plenary panel 1: Helsinki Plus 40: Strengthening the Security Community to Meet Current Security Challenges

Plenary panel 1: Helsinki Plus 40: Strengthening the Security Community to Meet Current Security Challenges

(in partnership with the Swiss FDFA in the context of the upcoming Swiss Chairmanship of the OSCE)

Discussion topics:

• How much is the OSCE still relevant for confidence-building within the Euro-Atlantic and Euro-Asian security community? In which areas can it bridge the East-West divide?
• Which of the original OSCE norms are alive and relevant today, which require adaptation and which need improvements in enforcement mechanisms?
• Based on the experience of the OSCE’s engagement in South East Europe, what are the comparative advantages of the OSCE over other international organisations?
• Which experiences of SEE states might be relevant for other OSCE countries?
• What are the common challenges that might unite OSCE member states in the near future?  
• What could be considered a success of the joint Swiss-Serbian chairmanship?

Speakers:

Aleksandar Vučić‚ First Deputy Prime Minister, Republic of Serbia

Heidi Grau‚ Ambassador, Head of the OSCE Chairmanship Task Force of the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs

Adam Kobieracki‚ Ambassador, Director of the OSCE Conflict Prevention Centre

Andrew Michels‚ Senior Security Sector Advisor and Adjunct Professor of International Relations George Washington University Elliott School of International Relations

Richard Thompson‚ Director, T-Media (Chair)