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
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.
Council of Europe Secretary General to open ministerial sport conference in Monaco
30 October 2026 — Monaco · Secretary General Alain Berset will open the 19th Council of Europe Conference of ministers responsible for sport alongside H.S.H. Prince Albert II of Monaco on 4 November at the Grimaldi Forum. Chaired by the Minister of Interior of the Principality…
Press
- Berset: «Es ist verrückt, ein Wahlresultat nicht zu akzeptieren»
- The week in Switzerland
- Georgian Parliament official cites party bans in Ukraine, Moldova in response to CoE Sec Gen remarks
- CoE Secretary General: Serbian student movement sets a model for rest of Europe
- Alain Berset si congratula con la Lista degli studenti serbi
Agenda
Speeches
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.
51st Session of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities
27 October 2026 — Strasbourg · Two days ago, young people in Serbia did what many said was impossible. They turned protest into a majority. Next Sunday, it will be two years since a railway canopy collapsed in Novi Sad, killing sixteen people.
Latest video
World Forum for Democracy 2026 — opening address by the Secretary General
2 November 2026AddressStrasbourgCouncil of Europe10 minOpening plenary session of the 14th World Forum for Democracy, Strasbourg, 2 November 2026: the Secretary General’s address, taken from the Council of Europe’s recording. In English. Text of the speech.
Source: Council of Europe ·
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