1. The European Union would like to welcome Ambassador Tuula Yrjölä to the Permanent Council and thank her for her report on the activities of the Conflict Prevention Centre (CPC).
2. The OSCE is unique in its function as the world’s largest regional organisation for security and cooperation. Conflict prevention and response to emerging crises lie at the very heart of the activities of our Organisation. Last year we marked the 10^th anniversary of Ministerial Council Decision No. 3/11 on the Conflict Cycle, outlining the OSCE’s capabilities in early warning, early action, dialogue facilitation, mediation support and post-conflict rehabilitation across all three dimensions.
3. Developments in the OSCE area over the last few years – particularly the Russian Federation’s unprovoked and unjustified war of aggression against Ukraine, which we condemn in the strongest possible terms – have clearly demonstrated the need for the OSCE to remain actively engaged in the prevention and response to conflicts and crises. This is why the instruments in the OSCE conflict prevention and conflict management toolbox are of key relevance and must be actively used. We reiterate that it would have been both timely and topical to reaffirm and strengthen the OSCE Conflict Cycle toolbox during last year’s Ministerial Council. However, the fact that some participating States decided not to join consensus for such a decision makes it evident that the organisation can only be as effective as the participating States collectively allow it to be.
4. We commend the CPC for the support it has provided to the OSCE’s long-time engagement in Ukraine and reiterate our deep regret that the mandates of the Border Observer Mission to Gukovo and Donetsk, the Special Monitoring Mission and the Project Coordinator in Ukraine could not be renewed due to Russia’s objection. We welcome that through the Support Programme for Ukraine, which we fully support, sorely needed assistance will continue to be provided to Ukraine. As Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine has a detrimental impact on our collective security, we urge the CPC and the OSCE Participating states to reflect on the lessons learnt from the OSCE’s response to this war and how it could be further improved.
5. The EU welcomes the work carried out by the CPC to support field operations. We continue to believe that the field operations should have strong and flexible mandates, as their work with and across host countries and with civil society is of great importance for addressing tensions through situational awareness, early warning, peace building, conflict prevention and mediation. At the same time and in accordance with its mandate, we would welcome CPC’s active engagement across the OSCE area, irrespective of the existence of field operations.
6. The resolution of the unresolved conflicts, including in the Republic of Moldova and in Georgia remains a priority for the EU. We value the CPC’s contribution in this regard, particularly the support provided to the Special Representatives of the Chair and its contribution to the work of the GID. The EU reiterates its strong support for the existing negotiation formats.
7. In addition, the European Union believes that the OSCE can make a useful contribution to the settlement of emerging or outstanding issues between Armenia and Azerbaijan. It has the necessary expertise and tools and can provide possible options to the Parties for timely and effective responses to escalating tensions or conflicts in the OSCE area, also in accordance with the OSCE Ministerial Council Decision 3/11 and previous practices, complementing EU’s Monitoring Capacity to Armenia.
8. We  reiterate  our commitment  to the full  implementation  of  the  existing  principles  and  commitments  in  the  politico-military  dimension. With respect to Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, we deplore that the provisions of the Vienna Document were not properly respected neither by Russia nor Belarus, which did not utilise the opportunities given when the Risk Reduction Mechanism was invoked by Ukraine and the Baltic States respectively, failing to provide the transparency and predictability that these instruments were created to foster. The events also demonstrated that the modernisation of the Vienna Document would have been necessary. Furthermore, we very much support the activities connected to SALW and thank the CPC for its continued support in this field as well as its assistance provided to the Forum for Security Co-operation.
9. The CPC must be provided through the Unified Budget with the resources necessary to carry out its mandate effectively and efficiently. We agree with you, Ambassador Yrjölä, that we have a shared political and financial responsibility for collective security and for the OSCE’s comprehensive conflict cycle toolbox. The developments of recent years also confirm that in the field of early warning and preventing crises, there are opportunities for the CPC to enhance the OSCE’s abilities and readiness. Being fully aware of the sensitive nature of issues managed by the CPC, we would welcome greater transparency and increased information-sharing regarding its activities.
10. Mr Chair, we would like to thank the CPC staff and its Director for their valuable work, especially under the current challenging conditions. We continue to fully support the CPC and wish Ambassador Yrjölä and her dedicated staff every success in their future activities.

The Candidate Countries REPUBLIC of NORTH MACEDONIA*, MONTENEGRO*, SERBIA*, ALBANIA*, UKRAINE and REPUBLIC OF MOLDOVA, the Potential Candidate Countries BOSNIA and HERZEGOVINA* and GEORGIA, the EFTA countries ICELAND and LIECHTENSTEIN, members of the European Economic Area, as well as ANDORRA and SAN MARINO align themselves with this statement.

* Republic of North Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia, Albania and Bosnia and Herzegovina continue to be part of the Stabilisation and Association Process.