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, Switzerland: a member of the Federal Council from 2012 to 2023, and President of the Confederation in 2018, then again in 2023.
Latest video
BBC News — interview with the Secretary General of the Council of Europe, from Washington
25 September 2026Washington D.C.Council of Europe5 minInterview with BBC News from Washington, during the US leg of the Secretary General’s visit to the United States (20-26 September 2026). The programme’s on-screen banners read “UN general assembly continues in New York”, then “War in Ukraine dominates UNGA meetings”. In English.
Source: BBC News ·
News
European and World Day against the Death Penalty: joint statement by the Secretary General of the Council of Europe and the High Representative of the European Union
9 October 2026 — Strasbourg · A statement by Secretary General Alain Berset and High Representative Kaja Kallas on European and World Day against the Death Penalty, 10 October 2026
Manipulating history, undermining democracy
9 October 2026 — Strasbourg · Reliable information enables citizens to participate in public life, but disinformation, propaganda, selective histories and misleading AI-generated content can distort understanding and weaken democracy. In this context quality history education can help learners contextualise past events, develop critical thinking and engage with different perspectives.
Press
- Alain Berset: «Es ist gefährlich, wenn Länder, die ihre Armeen aufrüsten, nicht auch in demokratische Institutionen investieren»
- Poroshenko discusses Council of Europe Action Plan for Ukraine 2027-2030 with CoE Secretary General
- Registro danni Ucraina ora accetta anche reclami per il deterioramento dell'ambiente
- Europe's compensation register for Russia's victims in Ukraine now fully operational
- Council of Europe: the Register of Damage for Ukraine is fully operational. 195 thousand compensation claims received so far
Speeches
Séance d’ouverture de la 6e conférence annuelle de l’Observatoire de l’enseignement de l’histoire en Europe – « Histoire manipulée, démocratie en danger »
8 October 2026 — Strasbourg · Au lycée, l’histoire était surtout pour moi une affaire de dates. Mes professeurs me l’auraient sûrement reproché. Je dois leur demander pardon, car je vais tout de même vous en proposer trois. Trois dates qui racontent ce que l’Europe fait de sa mémoire et pourquoi notre démocratie en dépend.
Débat thématique sur la peine de mort lors de la 1571e réunion du Comité des Ministres
7 October 2026 — Strasbourg · Je tiens tout d’abord à vous remercier d’avoir consacré ce débat thématique du Comité des Ministres à l’abolition de la peine de mort.
Agenda
Former President of the Swiss Confederation and Head of the Federal Department of Home Affairs in charge of health, social security, culture, gender equality, prevention of racism, amongst other areas.
A Swiss politician with longstanding experience at the highest executive and legislative levels engaged in solution-oriented consensus-building, decision-making and responsible for the management of complex structures.
Fully committed to multilateralism, international law, the rule of law and human rights and steadfastly engaged for the respect of democratic principles and strong institutions at the national and international levels.
I have always been committed to human rights, democracy and the rule of law. As Secretary General of the Council of Europe, the Reykjavík Declaration is the compass guiding my commitment to our shared values and the people who call our continent home.
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
→ Committed
to promoting operational action by the Council of Europe supporting Ukraine and its people in the face of Russia’s war of aggression.
→ Determined
to ensure that the Council of Europe carries real political weight on our continent.
→ Convinced
that democratic principles and ‘living together’ are the core strengths of a European family of nations founded on the rule of law.
→ Resolved
to put the commitments made at the Summit in Reykjavík into action.
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