News
Secretary General to visit the Republic of Moldova
The Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Alain Berset, will pay a visit to the Republic of Moldova on 20 and 21 November, as the country begins its six-month Presidency of the Council of...
Alain Berset addresses science and policymaking at University of Fribourg
On Friday, November 14, 2025, Alain Berset, Secretary General of the Council of Europe and former Swiss President, presented a public lecture at the University of Fribourg. Under the title “Science,...
“Environment is the foundation of our rights and freedoms” – Alain Berset
The Council of Europe is participating in the United Nations climate change conference (COP30) in Belém, Brazil, with three side events highlighting how human rights, democracy, and environmental...
Thirtieth anniversary of Ukraine’s membership of the Council of Europe
A European story, a shared future Thirtieth anniversary of Ukraine’s accession to the Council of Europe By Alain Berset, Secretary General of the Council of Europe Today, we remember the day Ukraine...
A democratic compass for Europe, guiding us from the past and into the future
Secretary General Alain Berset has underlined the enduring importance of the European Convention on Human Rights as a democratic compass for the continent. Speaking at a ceremony at the European...
World Forum for Democracy opens in Strasbourg
The Council of Europe is hosting the annual World Forum for Democracy, an unmissable event bringing together policymakers, campaigners, experts, intellectuals and young people from across the globe....
Advancing democratic resilience in Europe, boosting cooperation to face new challenges were in focus of the Secretary General’s visit to Vienna
The Council of Europe’s Secretary General, Alain Berset, concluded his visit to Vienna, which focused on the need to renew emphasis on democratic security to guarantee peace and stability in the...
Secretary General concludes his official visit to Portugal
Council of Europe Secretary General Alain Berset has concluded an official visit to Portugal on 28 and 29 October. In Lisbon he met with the President of Portugal, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, the...
North-South Prize awarded to Miguel Ángel Moratinos and refugee sports initiative
The Council of Europe North-South Prize has been awarded to Miguel Ángel Moratinos, United Nations Under-Secretary-General and High Representative for the United Nations Alliance of civilizations,...
“Democracy does not play out just in international summits, but in municipal councils too” – Alain Berset
As Secretary General Alain Berset addressed the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities, he discussed how fear has entered our democratic system. Rarely can he have had an audience with as sharp...