The European Union and its member states condemned Russia's violations of the OSCE Code of Conduct on Politico-Military Aspects of Security, particularly regarding conflict-related human rights violations, during the 101st Joint FSC-PC meeting in Vienna on 15 July 2026. In a statement published by the EEAS on 17 July 2026, the EU accused Russia of flagrantly disregarding the Code for the fifth year of its war of aggression against Ukraine, citing violations of sovereign equality and the right of states to choose their security arrangements. The statement highlighted that independent reports from the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine, ODIHR, and the Moscow Mechanism document grave and widespread human rights abuses caused by Russia's war.
Paragraph 34, requiring armed forces to be commanded and equipped consistently with international law, including the Geneva Conventions; Paragraphs 29 and 30, mandating instruction in international humanitarian law; and Paragraph 31, holding commanders and subordinates individually accountable for unlawful orders. The EU condemned Russia's relentless attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure, as well as the deliberate targeting of civilians based on fabricated claims of military relevance, which violate the principle of distinction under Additional Protocol I. The statement reaffirmed the EU's commitment to accountability for war crimes and the crime of aggression, including support for the Special Tribunal for the Crime of Aggression against Ukraine and the Council of Europe's Register of Damage for Ukraine.
The statement was delivered by the EU Delegation to the International Organisations in Vienna, with Albania, Andorra, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Republic of Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Norway, San Marino, and Ukraine aligning themselves with the EU position. The EU called on the Forum for Security Co-operation to continue assessing implementation of the Code and ensuring proper investigation and prosecution of human rights violations.