Welcome to Alain Berset’s personal website. He has been Secretary General of the Council of Europe since 2024; his speeches, news and agenda are gathered here. Before Strasbourg, Alain Berset was a member of the Swiss Federal Council from 2012 to 2023 and President of the Swiss Confederation in 2018 and again in 2023. He had previously been a member of the Council of States (Senate) from 2003 to 2011 and President of the Council of States in 2008-2009.
News
Monaco welcomes European ministers for landmark conference on safer sport
4 November 2026 — Monaco · Opening the conference 19th Council of Europe Conference of ministers responsible for sport alongside H.S.H. Prince Albert II, Secretary General Alain Berset thanked Monaco for placing sport integrity high on the agenda of their first presidency of the Committee of Ministers.
What future is left for us?” World Forum for Democracy opens with a call to earn back trust
2 November 2026 — Strasbourg · As young people across the world take to the streets to demand political change, defend their rights and call for a greater say in their future, the 46-member Council of Europe is organising the World Forum for Democracy to assess the state of democracy amid growing global uncertainty and explore solutions to strengthen democratic security.
Press
- The week in Switzerland
- « À Monaco, le Conseil de l’Europe se sent chez lui » : les mots du secrétaire général alors que la présidence monégasque du Comité des Ministres s’achève
- Council of Europe Condemns Russian Bombing of Aid Centre in Komyshuvakha
- Consiglio d’Europa: Forum della democrazia. Berset: “Istituzioni più solide, media liberi, elezioni trasparenti”
- Georgian Parliament official cites party bans in Ukraine, Moldova in response to CoE Sec Gen remarks
Agenda
19th Council of Europe Conference of Ministers responsible for Sport, Monaco
3 November 2026 - 4 November 2026World Forum for Democracy
2 November 2026 - 3 November 2026Official visit of Mr Andrej Plenković, Prime Minister of the Republic of Croatia
2 November 2026
Speeches
Séance d’ouverture de la 19e Conférence des Ministres du Conseil de l’Europe responsables du Sport
04.11.2026 — Monaco · Derrière chaque légende du sport, il y a une enfance. Celle d’un garçon de cinq ans qui invente ses premiers dribbles dans les quartiers nord de Marseille. D’une fille de six ans qui enchaîne les roues dans une cour de récréation roumaine. D’une autre qui tape des balles de tennis à deux mains sur un parking de Novi Sad. D’un garçon de onze ans qui court plus vite que ses camarades dans un collège de Londres.
Opening Plenary of the World Forum of Democracy “Strengthening Democracy for Disrupted Times”
2 November 2026 — Strasbourg · Eight days ago, on the same Sunday, Serbians and Brazilians lined up to vote. In Serbia, students who had protested for two years won, on the highest turnout since the breakup of Yugoslavia.
Latest video
Conseil de l’Europe : l’avenir du sport et la protection des mineurs au cœur des débats
3 November 2026InterviewMonacoCouncil of Europe8 minInterview — L’Actu, TVMonaco (news bulletin of 3 November 2026, from around minute 7). In French.
Source: L’Actu, TVMonaco · Watch on the source site
Always committed to human rights, democracy and the rule of law, as Secretary General of the Council of Europe, I have made the Reykjavík Declaration the compass of my commitment to our shared values and to the benefit of the people living on our continent.
Signing ceremony with Moldovan President Maia Sandu during her official visit to Switzerland. Photo: Keystone
Exchange with students at the University of Lausanne during the state visit of President Emmanuel Macron to Switzerland, 16 November 2023. Photo: FDFA
Discussion with Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni on the sidelines of the European Political Community summit in Granada. Photo: Keystone
Official meeting with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in Ottawa. Photo: Office of the Prime Minister
At the WEF in Davos with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and First Lady of Ukraine Olena Zelenska, 17 January 2023. Photo: Keystone
Exchange with UN Secretary-General António Guterres at the UN Climate Change Conference COP28 in Dubai. Photo: COP28