At the Conference of Foreign Ministers of the Four Powers (USSR, USA, France and the United Kingdom), held in Berlin from 25 January to 18 February 1954, the Soviet Minister, Vyacheslav Molotov, submits a draft general Treaty on collective security in Europe and proposes that a conference of European States be convened with a view to its conclusion.

"European Security, Molotov-style' is the caption for this Austrian cartoon showing the Soviet Union taking hold of Europe with its sickle.

On 31 March 1954, in a note addressed to the French, US and British Governments, the Soviet Union announces its opposition to the establishment of military groupings of European States and renews its proposal regarding the General European Treaty of Collective Security, made at the Conference of the four Foreign Ministers, held in Berlin from 25 January to 18 February, accepting, on this occasion, the participation of the United States.

In its reply of 7 May 1954 to the note from the Soviet Government dated 31 March, the French Government rejects the Soviet proposal regarding the General European Treaty of Collective Security, defends the defensive groupings of Western States and calls on the Soviets to put an end to the causes of division in Europe, in particular by allowing the Austrian and German problems to be resolved.

On 14 February 1958, the Polish Government sends a memorandum to the representatives in Warsaw of Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, the United Kingdom, the United States, Czechoslovakia, the German Democratic Republic (GDR) and the USSR, as well as to the Swedish representative for forwarding to the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG), regarding its proposal for the establishment of a nuclear-free zone in Central Europe.

On 28 February 1964, the Polish Government revamps its plan for the establishment of a nuclear-free zone in Central Europe (the Rapacki Plan) and submits a proposal (the Gomulka Plan) aiming to freeze nuclear and thermonuclear weapons in Poland, Czechoslovakia, the German Democratic Republic (GDR) and the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG).

On 20 January 1965, the Consultative Political Committee of the Warsaw Pact, opposed to the establishment of a NATO multilateral nuclear force, gives its support to the Rapacki II Plan of 1964 (the ‘Gomulka Plan’) and revives the idea of the convening of a Paneuropean Conference on security in Europe.

On 5 July 1966, in the statement on the strengthening of peace and security in Europe, the Political Consultative Committee of the Warsaw Pact proposes the simultaneous dissolution of the two military blocs, the recognition of the existence of two German States, the development of agreements on disarmament in Germany and in Europe and the convening of a general European conference with a view to discussing the problems of ensuring security in Europe and of establishing general European cooperation.

Meeting in Karlovy Vary on 26 April 1967, the representatives of the European Communist and Workers’ Parties approve the Warsaw Pact proposal for the simultaneous dissolution of the two military alliances, call on all States to recognise the post-war territorial status quo and call for the establishment of a system of collective security based on the principles of peaceful coexistence between States with different social systems.

‘To get closer or not – is that the question?’ In 1967, the cartoonist, Hans Geisen, illustrates the implications of the meeting held from 24 to 26 April 1967 in Karlovy-Vary (Karlsbad) of representatives from Communist parties and workers within Europe, focussing particularly on a collective security system based on the principles of peaceful coexistence between states which have different social systems.

In December 1967, the Ministers of the North Atlantic Council approve the Harmel Report on the future tasks of the Atlantic Alliance. The report encourages the Allies to improve relations with the Soviet Union and Eastern European countries and calls on them to use the Alliance in the interests of détente.

In this interview, Egon Bahr, former Head of the Policy Planning Staff in the German Federal Foreign Office under Willy Brandt, emphasises the support given by the German Government for the Harmel report on the future tasks of the Atlantic Alliance. The report encourages the Allies to improve relations with the Soviet Union and the countries of East Europe, and advocates commitment on the part of the Atlantic Alliance in favour of détente.

In this interview, Étienne Davignon, Head of Cabinet of the Belgian Foreign Minister, Pierre Harmel, from 1966 to 1969, outlines the reasons which led to the drafting of the Harmel Report on the future tasks of the Atlantic Alliance.

In this interview, Étienne Davignon, Head of Cabinet of the Belgian Foreign Minister, Pierre Harmel, from 1966 to 1969, outlines the attitude of the Member Countries of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO), in particular the United States of America and France, towards the Harmel Report on the future tasks of the Atlantic Alliance.

Known as the ‘Reykjavik Signal’, the Final Communiqué of the Ministerial Session of the North Atlantic Council of 24 and 25 June 1968 reaffirms the intention of the Allies to continue to move toward détente and asks the Soviet Union and other Eastern European countries to associate themselves with the process leading to balanced and mutual force reductions.

On 17 March 1969, in a message to all the countries of Europe, the Member States of the Warsaw Pact declare support for the establishment of good relations with the West and call for a pan-European conference on security in Europe.

Attended by 300 participants from various political and socio-cultural movements, the non-governmental Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe, held in Vienna from 29 November to 1 December 1969, calls for the convening, in 1970, in Helsinki, of a Conference of European States, in which the two German States would participate, as well as for the establishment of a collective security system which would make the existence of the two military blocs redundant.

At the Ministerial Session of the North Atlantic Council held in Brussels on 4 and 5 December 1969, the Allied Governments accept the possibility of shortly holding a general conference, or a series of conferences, on cooperation and security in Europe which will be attended by the North American members of the Alliance.

The Treaty between Germany and the USSR, signed in Moscow on 12 August 1970, launched German policy vis-à-vis Eastern Europe (Ostpolitik), paving the way for the normalisation of diplomatic relations and confirming the peaceful territorial status quo between the Soviet Union and the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG).

At the Ministerial Session of the North Atlantic Council held in Brussels on 4 and 5 December 1969, the Allied governments declare themselves ready to enter into multilateral contacts with all interested governments to determine when it would be possible to convene a conference, or a series of conferences, on security and cooperation in Europe as soon as the talks on Berlin have reached a satisfactory conclusion and insofar as the other ongoing talks are proceeding favourably.

In an article published on 25 November 1971 in the French daily newspaper Le Figaro, Professor Raymond Aron takes a critical look at the convening of a European Conference which, because of the Soviet domination of Eastern Europe, does not fulfil the conditions for a balanced negotiation in a multilateral context.

The report on the political implications of the European Security Conference, presented on 30 November 1971 by Edmond Nessler on behalf of the General Affairs Committee of the Western European Union (WEU) Assembly, traces the history of the Soviet proposal regarding the convening of a conference on European security and considers that the current situation is such that its opening at a very early date may be envisaged.

In May 1972, the Allied governments, welcoming the progress made with regard to East–West relations and, in particular, the conclusion of significant agreements and arrangements, give the go-ahead to the opening of multilateral discussions linked to preparations for a conference on security and cooperation in Europe and accept the offer of the Finnish Government that these talks be held in Helsinki.