Spain has played a leading role in the OSCE since the outset, both through the initiatives that it has backed within the organisation and through the large number of Spaniards that have taken part in electoral observation and diplomatic missions, and military personnel who have worked and headed up certain missions on the ground. There are currently almost 30 Spaniards working at the OSCE Secretariat in Vienna, or on some of the 16 missions on the ground in Southeast Europe, Eastern Europe, the Southern Caucasus and Central Asia. Furthermore, hundreds of Spaniards have taken part since the outset in electoral observation missions of the OSCE, which oversee that elections are held in line with international democratic standards and ensure that they set a global benchmark. Spain has had a Permanent Representation in Vienna since 1994.

Among Spain’s priorities, on which it has held leading positions, are the fight against terrorism and ensuring dignity for its victims, the promotion of human rights, strengthening democratic institutions and environmental policies. Spain’s experience as a leading nation in terms of renewable energies has also been of great interest to many OSCE partners.

In 2007, Spain chaired the OSCE and at its Ministerial Council meeting approved the “Madrid Declaration on the Environment and Security”, which underlined, for the first time, the importance of the environment and the effects of climate change as key factors for security. This Rotating Presidency helped increase Spain’s presence in areas such as the Caucasus and Central Asia, where it sought to rebuild relations between the communities affected by the “stalemates” in conflicts in Georgia, Moldova and the Armenian conclave of Nagorno-Karabakh in Azerbaijan. In November 2007, the King of Spain was entrusted with inaugurating the new headquarters of the multilateral body at the renovated Palais Palffy in Vienna. Spain also played a leading role in promoting the latest Summit of Heads of State of the organisation, held in Kazakhstan in December 2010.