As part of its foreign and security policy, Finland takes part in the peacekeeping activities of the Council of Europe (CoE), the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), the United Nations (UN) and the North Atlantic Treaty Association (Nato).
From the point of view of foreign and security policy, the Council of Europe (CoE) is significant because its action can help prevent crises. The Council's work is founded on the core idea that a country, which is based on democracy and respect for human rights, is stable and capable of solving even serious conflicts without crises and wars. Finland wants to develop the Council of Europe as an organisation covering the whole of Europe, which works in close cooperation with the European Union and the OSCE. The Council of Europe gathers 47 member states.
Finland has been involved in the OSCE and its predecessor, the CSCE since the beginning. Finland signed the Helsinki Final Act in 1975 together with 35 other countries. In its present form, the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe is one of the largest regional security organisations in the world with 56 participating States spanning a vast geographical area from Vancouver in Canada to Vladivostok in Russia. The OSCE has 56 member states.
Finland joined the United Nations in 1955. The UN is of central importance for Finland as a forum of multilateral cooperation. As a member state of the UN, Finland is committed to the maintenance of international peace and security and peaceful solution of disputes. There are currently 192 United Nations (UN) member states.
Finland has taken part in the bilateral Partnership of Peace, PfP, of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (Nato) since 1994. Finland has been a member of the Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council, EAPC, since its foundation in 1997. The Partnership Council comprises 28 Nato member states and 22 partner countries.
