The Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Alain Berset, in a meeting in Strasbourg with the leader of the Belarusian democratic forces, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, on the margins of her address to the Committee of Ministers, reaffirmed the commitment of the Council of Europe to address the aspiration for a free and democratic Belarus in a dynamic and challenging international environment, notably through the work of its Contact Group on Belarus.
The Council of Europe Contact Group on cooperation with Belarusian democratic forces and civil society was set up in late 2022, following the suspension of all cooperation with the Belarusian authorities in March 2022. The innovative cooperation format of the contact group was created to continue working with Belarusians in exile, particularly democratic forces, young people, independent journalists and human-rights defenders.
"The contact group's vision is as simple as it is ambitious. When democratic change happens, democratic forces and civil society must be prepared and capable to the greatest extent possible to implement Council of Europe standards of democracy, rule of law and human rights, and anchor Belarus in the European family of democracies," the Secretary General said.
"The Council of Europe is determined to support the work of the contact group with both political commitment and technical expertise. As a pioneering framework, the contact group contributes to the broader Council of Europe agenda of promoting our shared values, and in particular to the New Democratic Pact for Europe," Alain Berset stressed.
The Council of Europe's work with Belarusian partners
The Council of Europe and Belarusian partners have come a long way since the contact group was established.
In 2024-25 a number of projects were implemented under the contact group, and a tailored placement programme for Belarusian professionals was developed. The Council of Europe's activities have notably contributed to the drafting by the democratic forces of the Memorandum on the abolition of the death penalty in Belarus, and of the Statement of principles on non-discrimination adopted by the Coordination Council.
A strategic dialogue was initiated between young Belarusians and decision-makers from the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe and the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities. Belarusian democratic forces were represented in these two bodies since early 2025. In 2024, the Parliamentary Assembly put together "The Luxembourg solutions" - a compilation of recommendations and good practices of national parliaments for Belarusians in exile to ease their stay, support their access to education and preserve their cultural identity. The Congress has been providing expertise in local self-government reform and preparing 'leaders for change' in view of a future democratic transition and has also worked on the local response to transnational repression against Belarusians in exile, including through the localisation of the "The Luxembourg solutions". Projects to support independent media in exile have been carried out.
New partnership activities for 2026-27
The new list of activities 2026-27 to be implemented under the contact group is based on the jointly agreed priorities. This new phase will enhance ongoing cooperation and respond to new needs in the areas of promoting the standards of the European Convention on Human Rights, abolition of the death penalty, anti-discrimination, gender equality and countering violence against women, parliamentary cooperation, local democracy, support to civil society, cultural rights, youth participation and Belarusian journalists in exile. The placement programme for Belarusian professionals at the Council of Europe is to continue. Launching an Information Point for Belarusian People in Vilnius under the agreement between the Council of Europe and the Government of Lithuania, to reinforce the organisation's capacities to implement activities on the ground, is part of the new list. Preparations for its launch are underway.
Secretary General Alain Berset
Council of Europe Contact Group on Belarus
