Finland will chair the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) in 2008. The OSCE is an organization of 56 participating States, comprising countries from Europe and North America, and Caucasian and Central Asian countries, which used to belong to the former Soviet Union.
In the years between 1999 and 2007, Finland has chaired the European Union, the Nordic Council of Ministers, the Barents Euro-Arctic Council and the Council of the Baltic Sea States.
Finland's first Presidency of the European Union took place between the 1st of July and the 31st of December 1999. The next Presidency was held between the 1st of July and the 31st of December 2006. Finland will hold the EU Presidency again in the year 2020.
Finland's first Presidency of the Nordic Council of Ministers took place between the 1st of January and the 31st of December 2001.
During Finland's second Presidency of the Nordic Council of Ministers in 2007, the possibilities of the Nordic Countries to deal with challenges posed by globalisation will be strengthened. At the same time, Finland seeks to increase the trust of Nordic citizens towards the functionality of Nordic civic society and the so called Nordic model.
Finland held the chairmanship of the Barents Euro-Arctic Council during 2005-2007. Barents Euro-Arctic cooperation has produced significant benefits to the region over the past decade. The main objective of Euro-Arctic cooperation is to promote the advancement of welfare and sustainable development in the Barents region.
The two year chairmanship circulates between the four member states of the Barents Euro-Arctic Council, Norway, Sweden, Finland and Russia. Finland began her third chairmanship period in the fall of 2005 and will hand over the chairmanship to Russia in the fall of 2007.
The Council was founded in 1992 in Copenhagen. The Council's members include the Baltic States, Germany, Poland, Russia and the European Commission. The objective of the Council is to promote infrastructural improvement, cultural development and the development of democratic structures through regional cooperation. Finland held the chairmanship of the Council during 2000-2002.
