Finland is integral to the creation to the OSCE, having hosted the 1973 Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe (CSCE) that produced the guiding document of the OSCE – the Helsinki Final Act.

In addition to being the birthplace of the Helsinki Final Act and one of the original participating States, Finland has continued its leadership role in the OSCE, regularly hosting Ministerial and other meetings, chairing the organization in 2008, and having its elections observed by the OSCE/ODIHR. It is both a member of the European Union and the Council of Europe. 

Finland has a long relationship with the Helsinki Commission.  In addition to Commissioners and Commission staff having taken part in the negotiations that led to the Helsinki Final Act and subsequent efforts, during the Finnish Chairmanship Foreign Minister Ikka Kanerva appeared before the Commission where priorities included election observation, frozen conflicts, the Balkans, and Afghanistan. 

Since 2014, Ikka Kanerva has served as the president of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly (PA), and is the first person to have served in the leadership of both the OSCE and OSCE PA.