"Let us look at the facts." With these words, Secretary General Alain Berset reopened the Council of Europe's weekly meeting of Ministers' Deputies in Strasbourg, marking the return from recess with a candid look at Europe's most pressing tests.
The postwar European and global order faces a direct challenge by force.
- In Ukraine, a dragging and intensifying war.
- In the South Caucasus, a long-awaited peace in the making.
- In the Balkans, tensions on the edge.
- In Gaza, a human tragedy with no end in sight.
- And in Tianjin, at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit, a reminder that Western Europe is no longer the sole centre of gravity - and that the Caucasus will be pivotal in shaping the balance of power to come.
"These crises demand clarity and courage," Berset told the Deputies. "The Council of Europe was created for moments like this."
South Caucasus: a chance for peace
The Secretary General welcomed the Washington Declaration by Armenia and Azerbaijan, describing it as a potential turning point. Its implementation could transform the region through reconciliation, stability and development. "This peace must be built on our values: democracy, human rights, and the rule of law," he stressed. The Council of Europe will stand with Armenia and Azerbaijan on the road to peace.
Ukraine: a test for Europe's order
Just days after Ukraine's Independence Day on 24 August, Kyiv was hit by one of the deadliest Russian strikes since the start of the war. The Alaska summit and talks in Washington stirred hope, but left many questions unanswered. "Our position is clear," Berset said. "A just and lasting peace, built with Ukraine, and anchored in our shared values."
From the first day of the invasion, the Council of Europe has acted with its most ambitious Action Plan to date - strengthening justice and accountability, preparing the ground for free elections when the time comes, and supporting reconstruction to secure Ukraine's European future.
"This war is an existential test for the European order," he warned. "It falls to us to renew that order on law and democracy - not on force. And our responsibility is to stand with Ukraine, in war and in peace."
Serbia: protecting rights amid unrest
With months of protest and recent violent clashes in Serbia, Berset said the Council of Europe must remain vigilant well beyond Ukraine. He reiterated his recent public appeals for calm, for the right of peaceful assembly, and for respect of the European Convention on Human Rights. He announced plans to meet President Vučić in New York "for a frank and constructive dialogue" on how the Council can help Serbia through its current challenges.
Gaza and beyond: human tragedies without borders
Describing Gaza's suffering as "unbearable," the Secretary General pointed to famine declared by the United Nations, to hospitals under fire, to journalists killed. He condemned these attacks and joined UN calls for an immediate ceasefire and unimpeded humanitarian access. He welcomed the initiative of 12 member States, led by France, calling for recognition of the State of Palestine and a renewed effort toward a two-state solution.
He also warned of the worsening crisis in Sudan and strongly condemned raids on UN offices in Yemen. "Violations of human rights and international law have no borders," he said.
Looking ahead
"These crises define our time," Berset concluded. "They remind us why we exist. Our voice must be clear, our will firm."
He will return to these issues at the UN General Assembly's high-level week later this month and in meetings in Cyprus next week. He underlined that strengthening the Council of Europe's external dimension is central to the organisation's 2024-27 North-South Centre Strategy.
Finally, he welcomed new Ambassadors joining the Committee of Ministers, noting that their engagement will reinforce the Council's collective strength "at a moment when Europe needs certainty, principle, and courage."
