As delivered by Marija Pejčinović Burić, Secretary General of the Council of Europe

 

Excellencies,

Dear cadets of the Diplomatic Academy,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

 

It is a great pleasure to be here in Cyprus and to have the opportunity to talk to you.

Your chosen career means that, by definition, you have a clear understanding of the geopolitics of our continent –

And the wider world –

And the role that multilateralism plays in addressing international challenges.

These are challenges that might otherwise be impossible to address –

And which often risk competition, conflict and even escalation to violence and war.

The Council of Europe was the first construction among Europe’s post-Second World War multilateral architecture.

It was established 75 years ago –

On the promise of “never again”.

Never again to war, destruction and persecution of the kind that had just been seen.

Never again to such a crime as the Holocaust –

A catastrophe that took place on European soil and shook civilisation to its core.

From 10 member states in 1949 –

We have grown to 46 today –

Including Cyprus –

Which joined in 1961.

All of these are committed to protecting and promoting common standards in human rights, democracy and the rule of law.

And each has ratified the European Convention on Human Rights –

Which protects every individual on European soil –

And is interpreted by a European Court of Human Rights, whose judgments are binding.

Among other things, the Convention guarantees the rights to freedom of expression –

Assembly and association –

And thought, conscience and religion.

It prohibits torture, discrimination and slavery, servitude and forced labour –

And it protects privacy, liberty and security and the right of access to justice and a fair trial.

Europeans alone have this standard of protection for their fundamental rights.

It is a unique and extraordinary achievement which allows us all to live in freedom as we do today –

This is something of which we should all be proud.

Building on it, the Council of Europe has developed more than 200 additional treaties –

Among them, the European Social Charter –

Which includes the rights to education and healthcare –

And to housing and social security.

We have also put in place an extensive range of soft law tools.

Taken together, these have had a transformative impact on our societies.

From early on, member states worked together to create a death penalty-free zone –

Eradicate torture –

And implement national minority and minority language rights –

Among many other things.

As our societies have changed and developed –

We have been sure to keep pace.

For example, our Istanbul Convention is combatting violence against women and domestic violence –

And has resulted in positive changes to the law –

In every member state where it is in force –

Including Cyprus.

Our work to ensure the rights of LGBTI people is providing recognition and ensuring dignity as never before –

And our range of tools and activities to counter contemporary crime –

From terrorism and cybercrime, to corruption and money-laundering –

Are extending the rule of law’s reach –

And ensuring people’s safety and security in our complex modern world.

But, of course, Europe continues to change.

New developments, new technology – new threats.

So, once again, we are responding.

European leaders endorsed our approach when they met last year in Reykjavík for our Summit of Heads of State and Government.

So, now we are at work on new tools –

To counter migrant smuggling –

A scourge that harnesses the desperation of vulnerable people, costs lives and lines the pockets of criminal gangs –

On the environment –

Recognising the triple planetary threat posed to our rights by pollution, climate change and loss of biodiversity –

And, in May, European foreign ministers used the opportunity of our Ministerial Session to adopt our new Framework Convention on Artificial Intelligence –

A first-of-a-kind global treaty that will ensure that the rise of AI upholds people’s rights and does not undermine them.

All of this and more ensures that our timeless values and standards apply to the defining challenges of our times.

It is the right approach, and we will stick to it.

But this is not a business-as-usual approach moment.

The Reykjavík Summit was held because of the very specific circumstances we face.

Over recent years, mine has been one of the many voices warning about the dangers of democratic backsliding in parts of our continent.

The return of extreme populism and nationalism has led to the growth of anti-rights movements –

Attacks on democratic standards and institutions –

And efforts to undermine multilateral organisations, including the Council of Europe.

This is an existential threat to modern European civilisation.

For those who want to see what the end product of this descent looks like, they need only turn their eyes east, towards Russia.

Over a period of years, the Russian Federation broke with our Organisation’s standards –

Inflicting pain and injustice both on its own people –

And, increasingly, on others.

That opened the door to Russia’s attacks on its neighbours –

Including the full-scale invasion –

And brutal, illegal and ongoing war of aggression against our member state, Ukraine –

Which began in February of 2022.

This represents a failure of the democratic security for which the Council of Europe stands.

The use of violence rather than the tools of peace must never go unanswered.

So, we were swift to suspend – and then exclude – the Russian Federation from our Organisation –

And we were right to do so.

But we also recognised the need to go further –

To bring our member states together –

And agree what should be done both to step up our range of measures to support Ukraine –

And to reverse democratic backsliding across the continent, as a whole.

The Reykjavík Declaration, issued at last year’s Summit, did just that.

European leaders recommitted to the values and standards of the Council of Europe –

Including the implementation of the Convention –

And the execution of the final judgments of the European Court of Human Rights.

They also agreed 10 new Principles of Democracy –

By which to measure and address the health of Europe’s democracies.

There was support for freedom of expression, including media freedom –

Measures to ensure that civil society plays a stronger role –

And place a focus on youth engagement.

All of this is important –

And follow-up measures have been put in place.

On Ukraine specifically, European leaders endorsed our proposal for a Register of Damage –

To record the loss and harm being inflicted by Russia.

That Register is now fully operational –

With offices in Kyiv and The Hague.

It has already received thousands of submissions –

And it will receive many, many more.

In doing this, it serves as a first and necessary step towards a future compensation mechanism in which we are ready to play our part –

Just as we are with any Special Tribunal to try the crime of aggression –

And on which we are fully engaged with the Core Group’s discussions.

On top of this, we have followed up on the Reykjavík Declaration by establishing a Consultation Group on the Children of Ukraine –

To support them wherever they may be in Europe –

And which complements our work to help Council of Europe member states meet the physical and psychological needs of the millions of Ukrainian refugees who have come to them in search of safety.

We have also put in place an Action Plan on Resilience, Recovery and Reconstruction –

To help ensure strong and effective democratic institutions in Ukraine both in these times of war –

And beyond –

As well as committing to help it meet a range of standards required for membership of the European Union.

We are also doing this for other countries with an EU perspective –

As we have for so many before.

Ladies and gentlemen,

It is true that Europe today faces a range of difficulties –

Some of them very stark indeed.

It is equally true that the values and standards of the Council of Europe were designed not only to withstand such circumstances –

But to address them –

And to overcome them –

So that every European can continue to live in freedom, opportunity and dignity.

This requires political will -

Political will that was on display in Reykjavík –

And that must be maintained in the months and years ahead.

But it cannot be done by politicians alone.

It requires the follow-up of academics, civil servants and diplomats –

Including, in due course, the students of this prestigious Academy –

As well as civil society –

Experts and interest groups –

And the participation of millions of individual citizens across Europe.

The lesson of the past 75 years is that where member states work with international organisations to ensure an environment in which this can happen –

People are ready, willing and eager to play their part.

So, let us move forward now, together, and build the better future that is ours to decide.

 

Thank you.