The Spirit of Helsinki

On August 1, 1975, the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe concluded its work with the signing of the Final Act—the famous Helsinki Accords—an important milestone in the history of international law and in European and global diplomacy. It was fundamental in generating a climate of détente at the height of the Cold War. Only a few months earlier, the Vietnam War had ended with the fall of Saigon, when 35 countries belonging to both the Western and Eastern blocs—including the United States, the Soviet Union, East and West Germany—met in neutral Finland to inaugurate a new phase of international relations. As with other high-level diplomatic meetings, such as the 1925 Locarno Conference, the decisions taken there deeply marked the following period, so much so that the term “Spirit of Helsinki” came to define that particular attitude of cooperation that characterized international politics aimed at overcoming East–West divisions. Among the most significant outcomes of that Act was the 1990 creation of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE).

In the extensive final document, one section stands out: the Declaration of Principles Guiding Relations between Participating States, which has regulated diplomatic dynamics among European countries for the past several decades. It is worth recalling its key points: sovereign equality and respect for the rights inherent in sovereignty; refraining from the threat or use of force; the inviolability of frontiers; the territorial integrity of States; the peaceful settlement of disputes; non-intervention in internal affairs; equal rights and self-determination of peoples; cooperation among States; and the fulfillment in good faith of obligations under international law. Of particular importance—especially considering the signatories from the Soviet bloc—was the strong emphasis on respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, including freedom of thought, conscience, and religion.

These principles deeply reflected the historical context in which they were formulated, but they also marked a significant turning point compared to the preceding decades, when the two superpowers had exercised heavy coercion to prevent political developments unfavorable to them in various European countries (one need only think of the dramatic example of the Prague Spring in 1968, or of the less “visible” instances of American interference in Western nations, such as Italy). In this year 2025, the fifty years since the Spirit of Helsinki are fully felt—indeed, they seem more distant than ever. International law is under attack, and since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, that assault has been massive and ongoing. A look at the list of Helsinki principles shows how each of them is being seriously challenged. It is not that there were no violations in the past, but previously, international law recognized and condemned them as such. Today, by contrast, what were once violations are now seen as legitimate, coherent, even necessary actions. In foreign policy—between declarations, actions, and practices—it feels as though we have gone back eighty years. From a civil state, we have returned to a state of nature: multilateralism, international law, and respect for treaties seem like distant memories. Yet this anniversary, though largely overlooked, has not been entirely forgotten. The new pontificate of Pope Leo XIV has chosen to recall it and place it once again at the center of political reflection, with the aim of “persevering in dialogue, strengthening cooperation, and making diplomacy the preferred path to prevent and resolve conflicts.”

In times such as these, it is important to revisit a particular paragraph of the Helsinki Final Act dedicated to disarmament: “The participating States recognize the interest […] in promoting disarmament […]. They are convinced of the need to take effective measures in these fields […] as steps toward the ultimate achievement of general and complete disarmament under strict and effective international control, resulting in the strengthening of peace and security throughout the world.”

Renato Bonomo
NP August/September 2025