Videos
Public recordings of Alain Berset’s appearances — lectures, speeches, interviews — as put online by their publishers. The videos are played from YouTube; each is in its original language, from the most recent to the oldest.
Riga Conference 2026 — a conversation with the Secretary General of the Council of Europe
10 September 2026RigaCouncil of Europe21 min“Special Conversation with Alain Berset”, recorded at the Riga Conference 2026 on the first day of the Secretary General’s official visit to Latvia. On his agenda that day: the plenary session “Ukraine’s future as a pillar of European security”, the compensation mechanism for Ukraine and the action plan on democratic security. In English.
Source: LATO | Latvian Transatlantic Organisation · Watch on YouTube
What democratic security in a rearming Europe?
24 February 2026LausanneCouncil of Europe1 h 33Lecture organised by the Jean Monnet Foundation for Europe and the University of Lausanne. Rising military budgets, hybrid threats, a shifting geopolitical balance: how can Europe guarantee its security without weakening its democratic foundations? Introductions by Frédéric Herman, Rector of UNIL, and Jacques de Watteville; lecture from 16:30; discussion with Roger de Weck, President of the Foundation, from 55:33. In French.
Source: Université de Lausanne · Watch on YouTube
Address to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe
27 January 2026StrasbourgCouncil of Europe16 minOpening sitting of the January 2026 part-session. The Secretary General sets out the Council of Europe’s work to uphold European values: support for Ukraine and the Organisation’s role once the fighting stops, the fight against disinformation, and the handling of migration issues within the framework of the European Convention on Human Rights. In English.
Source: Council of Europe · Watch on YouTube
Nordic Baltic Youth Summit — keynote speech
28 November 2025HelsinkiCouncil of Europe15 minKeynote speech opening the summit, which brings together two hundred young people from the Nordic and Baltic countries in Helsinki, during the Secretary General’s two-day visit to Finland. In English.
Source: Council of Europe · Watch on YouTube
75th anniversary of the European Convention on Human Rights
4 November 2025StrasbourgCouncil of Europe8 minThe Secretary General’s speech at the solemn ceremony marking 75 years of the Convention, signed in Rome on 4 November 1950. Original version, in French.
Source: European Court of Human Rights · Watch on YouTube
Congress of Local and Regional Authorities — 49th session
28 October 2025StrasbourgCouncil of Europe53 minThe Secretary General addresses the Congress at the first sitting of its 49th session, followed by an exchange of views with members — questions and answers. In English.
Source: Council of Europe · Watch on YouTube
“Democracy is in retreat almost everywhere” — interview on France 24
18 April 2025France 24Council of Europe17 minLong-form interview. Defending democracy, rebuilding Ukraine, resilience against foreign interference: the Secretary General discusses the Council of Europe’s missions. In French.
Source: FRANCE 24 · Watch on YouTube
Deciding under stress — a conversation with Gregor Hasler
19 November 2024Zurich22 min“Entscheiden unter Stress”. Hohenegg talk of 19 November 2024: Professor Gregor Hasler, psychiatrist, questions the former Federal Councillor on personal resilience — what psychology and neurobiology say about it, and what twelve years of decisions under pressure taught him. In German.
Source: Privatklinik Hohenegg · Watch on YouTube
Let’s talk Europe — with Emmanuel Macron, at the University of Lausanne
16 November 2023LausanneFederal Council1 h 29The President of the Swiss Confederation and the President of the French Republic meet the UNIL-EPFL community during Emmanuel Macron’s state visit to Switzerland. Moderated by Stéphane Benoit-Godet. Alain Berset speaks from 12:45, Emmanuel Macron from 18:23, followed by questions from the audience. In French.
Source: Université de Lausanne · Watch on YouTube
Alain Berset to leave the Federal Council — TV5MONDE
21 June 2023TV5MONDEFederal Council3 minTV5MONDE Info news report on the day of the announcement: after twelve years in government, the President of the Confederation, both the youngest and the longest-serving member of the Federal Council, will not seek a new term in December 2023. In French.
Source: TV5MONDE Info · Watch on YouTube
Pandemic and individual liberties — FIFDH 2021
5 March 2021GenevaFederal Council1 h 05One year after Switzerland’s first Covid-19 death, the Federal Councillor in charge of health and culture looks back on a difficult year, its regrets and its successes. A highlight of the International Film Festival and Forum on Human Rights, held online, moderated by Esther Mamarbachi (RTS). In French.
Source: FIFDH Genève · Watch on YouTube
“Alain Berset, did 2020 push you to your limits?” — Sternstunde Philosophie
27 December 2020SRFFederal Council58 minThe year-end Sternstunde, with Yves Bossart. Ten months of emergency rule, hospitals at capacity, a heavy toll: who is to blame? Do federalism and personal responsibility survive the crisis? And where does the health minister find his energy? On crises, humility and the craft of politics. In German.
Source: SRF Kultur · Watch on YouTube