EU statement, Opening Session, OSCE Warsaw Human Dimension Conference, 5 - 15 October 2026

1. The EU thanks the Swiss Chairpersonship and ODIHR for the excellent organisation of the Warsaw Human Dimension Conference. We also thank Poland for hosting us in Warsaw. Consensus on the annual mandated HDIM was again hindered by Russia and Belarus. We therefore deeply appreciate this opportunity to engage with other participating States and civil society representatives, many of whom took significant risks to attend this meeting, on the most pressing challenges to our security. 

2. We continue to firmly support ODIHR’s valuable work for the promotion and protection of democracy, the rule of law and human rights in the OSCE, and to call on participating States to respect and support its mandate and autonomy. It is our shared responsibility to preserve the strong mandates of the autonomous institutions and field missions of the OSCE, guarantee their effective functioning and adequate budgets. We value their crucial work in supporting participating States implement the OSCE commitments.

3. We condemn in the strongest terms Russia’s illegal, unprovoked and unjustified war of aggression against Ukraine. It is causing immense suffering, increased civilian casualties, and destruction, making ODIHR’s contribution through the Ukraine Human Rights Monitoring Initiative much needed. The latest interim reports provided additional credible, impartial documentation of violations of international human rights and humanitarian law. 

4. We also thank ODIHR for providing technical and administrative assistance to the expert missions under the Moscow Mechanism, including to the latest one requested to establish the facts related to the militarisation and indoctrination of Ukrainian children. The experts concluded that Russia has established a coordinated and systematic policy aimed at erasing the Ukrainian identity of children. The report confirms and deepens concerns already raised by previous Moscow Mechanism reports, by the UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine, and by civil society and other international actors. The EU is firmly committed to ensuring full accountability for all international crimes and human rights violations and abuses stemming from Russia’s war of aggression. As a member of the International Coalition for the Return of Ukrainian Children, the EU remains committed to the protection of Ukrainian children and supports all efforts aimed at securing their return, reintegration and rehabilitation. 

5. It is with deep regret that we note the shrinking space for civil society in a number of OSCE participating States, where legislation and policies are increasingly obstructing the work of civil society organisations and human rights defenders. ODIHR´s continued efforts to support civil society are therefore more crucial than ever.

6. In conclusion, we look forward to constructively engaging in the discussions as well as to taking part in the numerous side events. We reaffirm that the EU will continue to advance the implementation of international obligations and our OSCE commitments and call on all participating States to live up to them and reverse existing violations.  We continue to stand up for human rights, to speak up against human rights violations, the shrinking space and reprisals against civil society.

Albania, Andorra, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Republic of Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Norway, San Marino and Ukraine align themselves with this statement.