Helsinki Group

The Helsinki Group played the key role in the First Phase of the Helsinki Process by enhancing multi-stakeholder dialogue and by putting forward feasible and practical policy recommendations at a high level. The Helsinki Group was co-chaired by the Foreign Ministers of Finland and Tanzania, Mr. Erkki Tuomioja and Mr. Jakaya Kikwete, respectively. The group was composed of 22 members representing the views of various stakeholders on issues related to globalisation and global governance. The members were appointed in their personal capacity. The Helsinki Group started its work in January 2004 and delivered its final report in June 2005.

In its deliberations, the Helsinki Group wanted to work in a strategic way in order to define a clear and well resonating message, which would mobilise a sense of urgency in the global community. An appeal capturing people's imagination would be necessary in order to solve pressing global problems for the benefit of the most vulnerable people, emphasised many members of the Helsinki Group. It was considered that the Helsinki Group should launch a process to implement the commitments, which the international community has already made. Besides this it would be necessary to look at the methodology for solving global problems. The international system must be improved to become more responsive to urgent global concerns, stressed many members of the Helsinki Group. More accountability and democracy should be introduced to the international system and a new, credible start should be made to improve North-South relations.

By utilising the findings of the Track groups, the Helsinki Group made policy recommendations for future steps for the various actors in global governance. In additional to this, the Helsinki Group looked at strategies for moving the international community to meet the promises made to solve the burning problems yet to be solved. In its report the Helsinki Group suggested how the multistakeholder dialogue could continue, in the most fruitful way, through global Round Tables, mobilising political will and enhancing practical collaboration between various stakeholders. Suggesting policy alternatives in the fields of development, human rights, security, governance and environment the Helsinki Group offered an agenda for the next steps of the Helsinki Process.

The recommendations of the Helsinki Group were published and presented for debate, evaluation and commitment at the Helsinki Conference of September 2005, which also laid the foundation for the next steps of the Helsinki Process.