News
World Refugee Day: Council of Europe and UNHCR call for solidarity and action
Nearly 12 million refugees have found protection in the 46 member states of the Council of Europe. On World Refugee Day, Council of Europe Secretary General Alain Berset and UN High Commissioner for...
“Hate speech is a challenge to democracy itself” – Council of Europe Secretary General opens No Hate Speech Week in Strasbourg
“Hate speech is not an isolated issue, but a part of a deeper challenge - to trust, to truth, to democracy itself,” stated Council of Europe Secretary General Alain Berset at the opening of the No...
Official Visit of the Secretary General to the Holy See – Audience with His Holiness Pope Leo XIV
Secretary General Alain Berset paid an official visit to the Holy See, where he was received in audience by His Holiness Pope Leo XIV. The Secretary General conveyed his warmest congratulations to...
Secretary General Alain Berset voices strong support for reform and peace at conclusion of first visit to Armenia
On his first visit to Armenia as Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Alain Berset reaffirmed the Organisation’s unwavering support for the country’s democratic development and called for the...
Gaza: Secretary General Alain Berset calls for an immediate ceasefire, full and unhindered access for humanitarian assistance, and the urgent resumption of a credible political process
The latest attacks by Israel on Iran, which threaten the stability of the entire region, must not make us lose sight of the fact that the humanitarian situation in Gaza has reached an intolerable...
Council of Europe Secretary General to visit Armenia on 11-12 June
Council of Europe Secretary General Alain Berset will visit Armenia on 11–12 June for a series of meetings. The Secretary General will meet with President Vahagn Khachaturyan, Prime Minister Nikol...
Maltese Presidency Highlights Rule of Law: “A User’s Guide”
On 4 June the exhibition “A User’s Guide to the Rule of Law” was inaugurated at the Council of Europe in Strasbourg. It showcases the crucial role that the rule of law plays in citizens’ daily...
Global cybercrime experts meet at Council of Europe 2025 conference
From 4 to 6 June 2025, the Council of Europe is bringing together over 500 leading cybercrime experts from around the world in Strasbourg to address current challenges, review the global landscape...
Secretary General at Struthof: a visit to keep remembrance alive among young people
On 3 June Secretary General Alain Berset visited the former concentration camp at Natzweiler-Struthof (Alsace), an iconic memorial site, to reaffirm the importance of history teaching and...
Secretary General highlights Kazakhstan–Council of Europe cooperation as a pillar of regional and European stability
In the face of the current crisis which no country or organisation can face alone, a global strategy to protect the rule of law in our democracies is indispensable, and multilateralism and...