Switzerland has set out its 2026 priorities as Chair‑in‑Office of the Organisation for Security and Co‑operation in Europe (OSCE). In a statement to the OSCE Permanent Council, the United Kingdom welcomed Federal Councillor Cassis and endorsed Switzerland’s agenda, stressing dialogue and trust to rebuild security across the region.
Ukraine remains the central focus. The UK supported preparations across the OSCE to help enable a just and lasting peace when conditions allow, while stating there is no evidence Russia is serious about peace. The statement said Moscow continues to obstruct US‑led negotiations and cited a recent strike in Lviv involving the use of an intermediate‑range ballistic missile as an example of ongoing escalation.
The UK highlighted threats to the information environment. Referencing ministerial remarks to Parliament in early January 2026, the statement described an industrial‑scale campaign against the UK and its partners and framed this as information warfare. The UK said it will continue to use OSCE mechanisms to hold Russia to account for malign and reckless activity affecting many participating States.
London confirmed it will chair the OSCE Security Committee in 2026 and thanked Switzerland for entrusting the role to the UK. The committee’s agenda will be aligned with the Chair’s priorities, providing a forum for participating States to address politico‑military risks through practical cooperation and dialogue.
The statement placed fundamental freedoms and civil society at the centre of comprehensive security. It linked current commitments to the ‘third basket’ of the 1973–75 Conference on Security and Co‑operation in Europe, noting that human rights, democratic standards and the rule of law are a legitimate concern for all participating States and not solely an internal matter. The UK said it will continue to defend the OSCE’s Human Dimension and the work of its autonomous institutions through 2026.
On irregular migration, the UK called for OSCE principles of cooperation to be applied to disrupt the illicit finance that sustains criminal networks and to strengthen border security, identifying both as UK priorities for 2026. It encouraged the Chair to make border management a priority workstream to support coordinated action among participating States.
Institutional effectiveness featured prominently. The UK advocated internal reform to improve performance and deliver budget efficiencies, supported early adoption of the 2026 Unified Budget, and pressed for timely agreement on a Chair‑in‑Office for 2027. It argued for strategic prioritisation so the OSCE concentrates on areas where it has comparative advantage amid constrained public finances.
For practitioners, the operational implications are clear. Early budget approval would reduce disruption to programmes, procurement and staffing, while clarity on the 2027 Chair would stabilise planning. A focused agenda on Ukraine, counter‑disinformation and borders would direct limited resources where the organisation can add value alongside national efforts.
The UK closed by reaffirming sustained support for Switzerland throughout 2026. The message was consistent: use dialogue to manage risk, uphold commitments on rights and the rule of law, strengthen border security and financial integrity, and keep the OSCE equipped to act. The UK said it will back the Chair in pursuing these aims over the year.