Global

“Our priorities as Chair will be to emphasize the fundamental tasks of the OSCE; defending the European security order, upholding the OSCE concept of comprehensive security and to contribute to resolving the conflicts in our region", said incoming OSCE Chairperson Swedish Foreign Minister Ann Linde.

The Editorial Team of commonspace.eu extends its best wishes for the new year 2021 to all our readers, subscribers, contributors, and supporters. We wish a good start for the new year to all, and happiness and success throughout its twelve months. We thank everyone for their support throughout the last year.

In a press statement following the meeting, EU leaders welcomed the new agreement as an "important milestone" that would give European companies "unparalleled market access" to China, thus promoting the "level playing field". 

The annual India-Russia summit will not take place this year for the first time in twenty years amid speculation of tensions in the relationship. Whilst Russian and Indian diplomats have been emphasising that it is business as usual, others are pointing at a new geo-political reality that is straining the long historical friendship between the two countries.

Bethlehem on Thursday ushered in Christmas Eve with a stream of joyous marching bands and the triumphant arrival of the top Catholic clergyman in the Holy Land, but few people were there to greet them as the coronavirus pandemic and a strict lockdown dampened celebrations in the traditional birthplace of Jesus.

The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) was established in the 1990s as a multilateral security organisation for Europe and Eurasia. Following an organisational crisis this year, Will Murray speaks to Dr Walter Kemp about the organisation's history and approach to security, and what can be done to ensure its effectiveness going forward.