Deputy Prime Minister and outgoing OSCE Chairperson Ian Borg reflected on Malta’s legacy chairing the world’s largest regional security organisation, pointing out the major feats the country was able to achieve.
Borg opened a press conference in Ta’ Qali confirming the news that consensus was reached for the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe’s (OSCE) new senior leadership package.
During his address, he reflected on Malta’s hectic yet successful term, which started with just three weeks of notice and ended in consensus.
“This was no small task,” Borg assured.
Malta underwent intense preparations last year after the organisation could not come to an agreement on the 2024 Chair. Ultimately, Malta was the only nominated country accepted by all member states, “raising expectations” in an organisation that found itself in unprecedented times.
With a war raging on in Ukraine, Malta was steadfast in its commitment to keep it at the top of the agenda and help alleviate the consequences of war on the targeted country.
Borg’s first visit as chairperson was to Kyiv, which led to “impactful projects” like investigating serious crimes included cases of deporting children.
The island’s engagement extended across the OSCE region, from the Western Balkans and Central Asia, to the South Caucasus and Moldova, Borg visited field operations and met with several key leaders.
Borg described these field missions as the “heartbeat of the organisation” and urged participating states to remember that the experts stationed at these missions require certainty and resources to carry out their job.
“If we don’t agree on a budget, all of this remains uncertain.”
While the ministerial council was able to agree on the new senior leadership package, questions about the 2025 budget linger. The OSCE hasn’t been able to establish a Unified Budget since 2021, and while Malta left “no stone unturned” – in the words of the incoming Finnish Chair during the final plenary – to secure a consensus on the 2024 budget, this was not successful.
Thematic highlights and institutional struggles
Moreover, Borg went on to list the thematic highlights of this past year. He referenced the OSCE’s “pioneering role in global cyber diplomacy, its efforts to address the nexus between climate resilience and security, its work against democratic shortcomings specifically in the media freedom sector, an the upholding of human rights and fundamental freedom.
Despite this intense work, Borg had to face institutional challenges during this term, noting that even the “smallest decisions are tied to politics”.
However, Malta “faced these challenges head on” and was able to negotiate consensus on the new executive leadership.
Stepping up despite adversity
Answering a question by a local journalist, Borg was clear that this past year has been a historic one for Malta. Between the OSCE Chair and its seat on the UN Security Council, the island-nation was able to use its voice in the high-level discussions of global peace.
He emphasised that while Malta could have easily used its size and resource limitations as excuses to not take up the OSCE Chair, it didn’t. Instead, it snatched the opportunity to prove the country’s international value.
Borg explained that this year proved to Maltese citizens that being born in a country with a population of half a million, doesn’t mean that they have nothing to offer toward the establishment of peace nationally and worldwide.
He went on to thank both young and more experienced Maltese diplomats who have worked tirelessly these last two years in offices and embassies in Malta, Vienna, New York and elsewhere.
Borg said that Malta’s military neutrality, and neutrality in general, proved to be relevant and trusted by 56 states.
“No country can say it is perfect”
One major lesson learnt by Borg during this last year is that “no country is immune” to the problems faced tackled by the OSCE through.
Whether they’re challenges related to democracy, freedom of speech, the protection of journalists, domestic violence, frontier security and equality, no country within the OSCE region is not vulnerable to facing them.
“No country – neither the most developed nor the one facing the most challenges – can say they’re perfect.”
Borg’s Final Remarks
Addressing the final plenary ahead of the 57 delegations, Borg emphasised that while the consensus reached on the new leadership package was a “step in the right direction, it is not a silver bullet” for all of the organisation’s problems.
He said that while discussions on reform must be initiated, members must first address their behaviours that are stopping the organisation’s progression.
In line with the OSCE’s priorities, Borg said that the “war in Ukraine will come to an end, the question is how, when and at what cost?”
“Will we finally learn from our historical mistakes?”
Borg emphasised that the OSCE must look beyond survival and resilience and assured that during its last three weeks as chair, Malta will “leave no stone unturned.
Ultimately, as Borg prepares to pass on the baton to Finland, his pride for the work done by the Maltese delegation to promote multilateralism is clear and he is certain that while Malta’s legacy is not “a perfect OSCE, it is a more resilient one”.