The Secretary General of the 46-member Council of Europe, Alain Berset, will make an official visit to North Macedonia on 7-8 May 2026.
During the visit, the Secretary General will meet the country's highest authorities, including President Gordana Siljanovska-Davkova, who is the country's first woman head of state and a former member of the Council of Europe's Venice Commission. He will hold talks with Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade Timcho Mucunski, Minister of Justice Igor Filkov, and Minister of European Affairs Bekim Sali. The Secretary General also will meet members of parliament, including the delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, as well as civil society representatives.
North Macedonia to join AI convention
A highlight of the visit will be the signature ceremony on Friday 8 May of the Council of Europe Framework Convention on artificial intelligence and human rights, democracy and the rule of law, marking North Macedonia's commitment to ensuring that technological innovation remains firmly anchored in fundamental rights.
"Democracy must deliver for people in their everyday lives. This means stronger institutions, respect for the rule of law, and inclusive societies where all communities feel protected and heard," said Secretary General Alain Berset ahead of the visit.
Regional and international issues on agenda in Southeast Europe
Also on Thursday 7 May, Secretary General Berset will co-open the international conference "Leading change: people-centred paths to demographic resilience", alongside senior United Nations representatives, underlining the importance of inclusive, forward-looking policies to address demographic challenges and strengthen democratic resilience.
The visit to Skopje provides an opportunity to discuss key regional and international issues. The Secretary General is expected to encourage continued efforts to strengthen good neighbourly relations, including with Bulgaria, and to support ongoing work, assisted by the Council of Europe, on an Action Plan to advance the rights of persons belonging to communities.
The Secretary General will take note of North Macedonia's active engagement with Council of Europe legal instruments, including for example its signature of key conventions such as the Convention for the protection of the profession of lawyer and the Valletta Protocol, reflecting the country's commitment to strengthening the rule of law and international cooperation
The Secretary General moreover will underline the importance of continued reforms in areas such as the judiciary, the fight against corruption, and the effective implementation of European Court of Human Rights judgments, reaffirming the Council of Europe's readiness to support the country in these efforts.
North Macedonia and the Council of Europe
Secretary General Alain Berset
