Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić has called on Europe’s leaders to act urgently to reverse a slide in democracy.
Speaking at the opening session of the fourth Council of Europe Summit of Heads of State and Government, she stressed that Russia’s aggression against Ukraine was an extreme example of democratic backsliding. Freedom of expression – especially in the media, freedom of association, and a rise in discrimination and hate speech against minority groups were also apparent.
“You can stop this. You can reverse these trends. You can answer Russia’s spiral of descent by lifting Europe up – and ensuring the peace and democratic security that come when the rights of every individual are respected. This summit provides you with that opportunity… And not just in words, but by deeds,” she said.
The path to change was through implementing the European Convention on Human Rights and executing European Court of Human Rights’ judgements swiftly and fully, she said. Russia must be held accountable through the adoption of a register of damage to pave the way for a future compensation mechanism and action must be taken to tackle the “outrageous abduction of Ukrainian children”.
The Secretary General encouraged the summit to endorse the Reykjavik principles on democracy and to strongly back European Union accession to the European Convention on Human Rights. The Council of Europe’s “timeless standards” should be applied to contemporary challenges, such as artificial intelligence and climate change, she said.
Europe faces a stark choice. “We can let our standards fail – and see Europe slip backwards into the wild. Or we can reinvest in what has brought so much good to so many people for these past seven decades… This is a chance for you to set a strong and lasting course for the Council of Europe,” she urged.
Speech by Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić
