"The New Democratic Pact for Europe needs civil society. It needs those who create trust, defend rights, and keep democratic life real beyond elections," stated Council of Europe Secretary General Alain Berset, at the opening of an international conference in Strasbourg today. "Civic space is where democracy breathes. Our responsibility is clear - to keep civic space open, to protect those who sustain democratic life, and to ensure that in a fragmenting world order Europe does not surrender what makes democracy work".
The international conference Shaping democratic renewal: civic space and the path to a New Democratic Pact for Europe is organised by the Council of Europe. Over two days, key players from civil society, European states and international organisations will exchange best practices and formulate specific proposals on how to monitor, strengthen and protect civic space as a cornerstone of democratic renewal.
Responding to anti-democratic forces
The conference will gather important insights to contribute to advancing the New Democratic Pact for Europe - a collective effort to respond to the pressures weakening European democracies set in motion just over a year ago. The consultation phrase for the Pact is entering its height.
"Civil society has a central role to play in it," stressed Alain Berset, adding that the next phase of the pact will turn these insights into concrete policies and new democratic practices.
Reflecting on the European history, Secretary General warned: "Once again, Europe is at a turning point. We will not be able to respond to disruption outside Europe if civic space is shrinking within it, if democratic trust is collapsing from inside". Among the challenges outlined in his 2025 annual report, Berset noted shrinking civic space under new so-called "foreign influence" or "foreign agent" laws, which place growing burdens on independent organisations.
New work on a Council of Europe Convention on disinformation and foreign interference, and the work on migration issues within the framework of the European Convention on Human Rights, are examples of addressing the larger challenges for Europe's democratic future, he added.
Michael O'Flaherty, Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, in his keynote address spoke about growing pressures against civil society, stressing its essential role in safeguarding democracy, human rights, and the rule of law in Europe, and calling for coordinated action at national and European levels to protect and strengthen civic space.
Ambassador Daniela Cujbă, Permanent Representative of the Republic of Moldova and President of the Ministers' Deputies addressed the conference participants in the welcome session.
Read the Secretary General's speech
Read the Commissioner for Human Rights' speech
New Democratic Pact for Europe
