Deputy Secretary General Bjørn Berge took part this week in the Athens Democracy Forum, an annual gathering organised by the Democracy and Culture Foundation and The New York Times, in partnership with the City of Athens.
In the opening debate on rethinking the world order, Deputy Secretary General Berge underlined the urgent need to strengthen democratic resilience: "How resilient is democracy today? How can we make it live, deliver and be truly believed in? The search for solutions is urgent - democracy must remain our lighthouse and shared horizon."
Mr Berge also joined a breakfast meeting on the role of diplomacy in times of conflict, supported by the Doha Forum. Discussions highlighted different perspectives on what democracy can deliver and how it can benefit from authoritarianism. This led to interesting debates, with diverging views - fully in line with the spirit of the New Democratic Pact - and included the recent example of Qatar's role in international diplomacy.
In a session on rethinking populism and tapping into discontent, the need to innovate in consultation in order to rebuild trust between citizens and institutions was highlighted.
"Meeting new partners at the Athens Democracy Forum allows us to innovate and find ways to reconnect citizens with democracy - in our member states and beyond," Mr Berge said.
A highlight of the Forum was the award of the City of Athens Democracy Prize to Israeli journalist Gideon Levy, recognised for his lifelong commitment to peace, justice, human rights and freedom of the press. He delivered a very powerful and moving speech and dedicated his award to his colleagues in Gaza.
New Democratic Pact for Europe
