At a time of growing geopolitical and economic uncertainty Secretary General Alain Berset will deliver a clear message to the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland on 19-20 January: there is no sustainable prosperity without the rule of law. Markets, he will stress, need more than capital and innovation - they need also trust, predictability and legal certainty.
The Secretary General will warn that the erosion of democratic standards, judicial independence and respect for international law is not only a political failure, but a direct threat to economic stability and investment.
"When law gives way to arbitrariness, investment retreats, risk rises and prosperity fractures," he said ahead of the forum.
Mr Berset will underline that corruption, attacks on independent institutions and legal unpredictability distort competition, undermine confidence and weaken growth.
"Democracy cannot thrive without trust, and trust is built on integrity. When corruption goes unpunished, citizens lose faith in democratic institutions - and markets lose confidence in the system," he added.
Through the New Democratic Pact for Europe, the Council of Europe works with governments - and calls on other economic actors - to strengthen democratic institutions, judicial independence and integrity, which are the foundations of a stable and competitive investment climate.
In Davos, Mr Berset will also address the challenges and opportunities posed by artificial intelligence. Through its Framework Convention on artificial intelligence, the Council of Europe offers enforceable guidelines for ensuring the transparency, accountability and human oversight of AI systems, providing legal certainty for innovators and investors while protecting fundamental rights and democratic values.
The Secretary General will take part in various panel discussions, as well as bilateral meetings, during the World Economic Forum.
Secretary General Alain Berset
New Democratic Pact for Europe
