At their meeting of 25 and 26 June 1990 in Dublin, the Heads of State or Government of the Twelve emphasise the exceptional importance for the future of Europe of the Paris Summit, to be held in November 1990, on the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe (CSCE).

On 9 October 1990, with a view to the Paris Summit to be held on 19, 20 and 21 November, the European Parliament adopts a resolution on participation by the Twelve in the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe (CSCE), better known as Helsinki II.

In his editorial of 16 November 1990, three days before the opening of the Paris Conference on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe, Emanuele Gazzo, Director of Agence Europe in Brussels, is sceptical about the implications of the meeting of the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe (CSCE).

On 19 November 1990, during the Paris Summit of the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe (CSCE), the 22 members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) and the Warsaw Treaty Organisation sign the Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe (CFE).

On 19 November 1990, François Mitterrand, President of France, delivers the opening address and outlines the implications of the Summit held in Paris, from 19 to 21 November, attended by the 34 Heads of State or Government of the countries taking part in the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe (CSCE).

Le 19 novembre 1990, à l'occasion du sommet de la Conférence sur la sécurité et la coopération en Europe (CSCE) à Paris, les chefs d'État ou de gouvernement des pays membres de l'Organisation du traité de l'Atlantique Nord (OTAN) et de l'Organisation du traité de Varsovie se déclarent prêts à établir de nouvelles relations de partenariat et à œuvrer ensemble pour le désarmement en Europe.

On 20 November 1990, at the Summit Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe (CSCE) held in Paris, the German Federal Chancellor, Helmut Kohl, outlines the CSCE’s new tasks.

‘The breakthrough.’ On 20 November 1990, commenting on the Paris Summit of the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe (CSCE), the Austrian cartoonist Ironimus depicts the establishment of new partnerships between the Eastern and Western blocs by emphasising the role played by Austria in the process of political and economic rapprochement.

Following the collapse of the Communist regimes in Eastern Europe and the disintegration of the Soviet Empire, the Paris Summit of the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe (CSCE) adopts, on 21 November 1990, the Charter of Paris for a New Europe. This Charter welcomes the end of the era of confrontation and division in Europe and makes particular reference to the values of peace and the inviolability of territorial borders.

On 21 November 1990, François Mitterrand, President of France, gives an assessment of the Summit Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe (CSCE) held in Paris and answers questions posed by journalists on the nature of the new relationship between East and West.

On 21 November 1990, the Paris Summit of the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe (CSCE) decides on how to institutionalise the CSCE and adopts the Paris Charter for a New Europe.

On 22 November 1990, the Soviet daily newspaper Pravda speculates as to whether the Charter of Paris for a New Europe provides the necessary guarantees to avoid further wars on the continent.

On 23 November 1990, commenting on the conclusions of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Summit held in Paris from 19 to 21 November, the French daily newspaper Le Monde speculates on the challenges awaiting the new Europe born of the end of East–West confrontation.