By Paula Cardoso (MP, Portugal)
Op-ed published at European Interest on 16 June 2025
This summer, as we mark the 50th anniversary of the Helsinki Final Act, the world stands at a crossroads. The principles of sovereign equality, peaceful dispute resolution, and respect for human rights, enshrined in that 1975 document, birthed the Conference on Security and Co-operation in Europe (CSCE), now the OSCE. These ideals, forged in the shadow of the Cold War, remain strikingly relevant as we face escalating climate crises, mass migration, energy insecurity, and economic disparities. The Final Act is not a relic—it’s a clarion call for renewed global co-operation to secure a sustainable future.
The Helsinki Final Act was visionary, not only for its political principles but also for its foresight in economics, science, technology, and the environment. It championed sustainable resource use, pollution control, and cross-border collaboration—issues that resonate deeply in 2025.
Today, the OSCE region, spanning Vancouver to Vladivostok, grapples with challenges that demand we revisit these principles. The Russian Federation’s aggression against Ukraine has shattered trust and infrastructure, while climate change, marked by 2024’s record-breaking heat, has unleashed devastating wildfires, floods, and droughts. These crises have displaced millions, with 35 million internally displaced in Africa alone and projections of 216 million climate migrants by 2050.
The environmental foresight of the Helsinki Final Act is particularly urgent. Its call for “rational utilization of resources” for future generations speaks directly to today’s climate emergency. The ocean, absorbing 90 per cent of global warming’s excess heat, reached unprecedented temperatures in 2024, fueling destructive storms. Yet, the U.S. withdrawal from the Paris Agreement threatens to unravel progress, such as COP29’s $300 billion climate finance pledge for developing nations. As parliamentarians, we must champion multilateral commitments, ensuring funds and policies prioritize adaptation and renewable energy to mitigate these existential threats.
Water scarcity, another Helsinki priority, looms large. The Aral Sea’s devastation in Central Asia underscores the need for regional co-operation to manage dwindling resources. From desalination investments to equitable water-sharing agreements, OSCE nations must act collaboratively to prevent conflict and ensure access to clean water. Similarly, climate-induced migration demands a proactive response. The 2015 European migrant crisis, partly driven by environmental factors, exposed the chaos of unprepared systems. We need legal frameworks to protect climate refugees, coupled with policies that harness migration as an economic asset, as the Draghi report highlights, to address Europe’s shrinking workforce.
Energy security, a cornerstone of Helsinki’s economic vision, is equally critical. Europe’s shift to renewables—producing more solar than coal electricity in 2024—is a triumph, but reliance on fossil fuels, exacerbated by Russia’s war, persists. Governments must simplify green energy regulations, invest in resilient grids, and tackle energy poverty, which burdens vulnerable households. The EU’s National Energy and Climate Plans offer a model, prioritizing efficiency and consumer empowerment.
Economic development, another Helsinki pillar, requires bold action. Risks stemming from unjustified barriers to trade, which hamper connectivity and global supply chains, undermine global trust and often cause inflation, meaning growing living costs for the citizens of the OSCE area.
Rebuilding Ukraine’s shattered infrastructure demands a collective OSCE effort, integrating it into European networks. Meanwhile, combating corruption and fostering transparent governance are vital to restore trust and drive prosperity. The rise of artificial intelligence (AI) presents both opportunities and risks. While AI transforms economies, its energy-intensive data centers could undermine climate goals if powered by fossil fuels.
The OSCE Parliamentary Assembly is stepping up. As we prepare to gather in Porto, Portugal, for our 32nd Annual Session, we must take stock of our successes and areas where more work is needed. From supporting Ukraine’s resilience to advocating climate-resilient energy policies at COP29, the Assembly has added real value to the broader multilateral efforts to bridge security, environmental, humanitarian, and economic priorities. Initiatives like the Ad Hoc Committee on Migration and regional forums on water and energy security embody Helsinki’s spirit of co-operation.
But we must do more. The scale of today’s challenges—climate change as a “threat multiplier,” migration pressures, and geopolitical tensions—demands more than incremental steps, and as we enter the 51st year of the OSCE’s existence, elected parliamentarians must lead the way to ensure that the spirit of co-operation that launched this organization in 1975 is revived for a new era of multilateralism.
As policymakers, we must honour the Helsinki Final Act by acting decisively. This means doubling down on climate finance, protecting water resources, integrating migrants equitably, and accelerating the clean energy transition. It means rejecting isolationism and trade wars, embracing connectivity, and investing in innovation to counter corruption and economic stagnation.
The Final Act’s vision of peace, democracy, and prosperity is not a nostalgic dream but a practical blueprint. Let’s use it to build a resilient, inclusive OSCE region—one that ensures no citizen, and no nation, is left behind.
Paula Cardoso is Head of the Portuguese Delegation to the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly and Rapporteur of the OSCE PA’s Committee on Economic Affairs, Science, Technology and Environment
Portugal is hosting the OSCE PA's 32nd Annual Session, which is being held under the theme “Commemorating 50 Years of the Helsinki Final Act: Responding to a New Reality in the OSCE.”
