As delivered by Bjørn Berge, Deputy Secretary General of the Council of Europe

President,

Secretary General,
Members of the Congress,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

A very good morning to all of you.

Amidst all the noise and speculation about Europe’s future, it would be easy to focus only on the big, big picture: the need to boost military spending, defence readiness, economic resilience, and strategic autonomy.

But this Congress reminds us of a fundamental truth: the health of democracy begins locally — with the people who make Europe, in all their diversity, with their hopes, and their fears.

So today, I want to try to take a closer look at where local democracy stand on our continent.

• Where fault lines are opening.
• Where we are building strength.
• And how we can move forward together.

Free and fair elections are the bedrock of democracy. Yet we have seen worrying signs when it comes to elections in general, but also local elections. Disinformation is a deep worry at elections on the national level.

At the local level, we have seen:

• In some places, elections are competitive, but the campaign environment is not fair.
• In others, voters face intimidation or pressure, especially in rural areas.
• And in several cases, we have seen targeted mobilisation of voters, raising real concerns about manipulation.

I know that among you, these developments are seen as undermining trust; and they damage the credibility of the democratic process where it should be strongest — at the ballot box.

When we talk about the future of democracy, we have to start with young people.

Since the Reykjavík Summit, youth participation has moved up the democratic agenda.

Young people are not waiting for us to be invited — they are already shaping democracy from the ground up.

But we must be honest: disillusionment is rising.

• In some of our member states, one in three young people say it is important for them to live in a democracy.
• Many say they would prefer strong leaders who bypass elections altogether.

This is more than a crisis of trust — it must be a wake-up call.

If we do not engage them now, others will. And they may not speak for our values.

Let me give you one last example that cuts to the heart of local democracy.

• Across Europe, more and more local leaders are facing threats, harassment — even violence. Often online.
• Women and young politicians are especially targeted.
• In some places, including my own country of Norway, mayors and councillors are being intimidated simply for doing their jobs.

This climate of fear is pushing people away from public life — leading to fewer candidates, lower participation, and a weaker democracy.

But dear friends, for all the pressure democracy is under, we should not underestimate its strength.

Nowhere has this been more evident than in Ukraine — our number one priority.

From day one of Russia’s war of aggression, local leaders were on the front lines — delivering aid, sheltering civilians, and defending democracy under fire.

And the Congress has been there every step of the way:

• Connecting Ukrainian municipalities with European partners.
• Supporting decentralisation reforms through the ‘High-Level Dialogue’, which I had the honour to co-chair with Deputy Speaker Kornienko.
• You have promoted citizen participation.
• And helped local officials to make use of the Register of Damage. As there can be no sustainable peace without justice.

The Register is now fully operational.

The next step is to establish a Claims Commission to adjudicate claims and deliver reparations for victims.

The ultimate goal is accountability. That also means we need to set up a Special Tribunal for the Crime of Aggression. The worst of all crimes.

• Last week, the Core Group met in Strasbourg and finalised all the key documents for the Special Tribunal.
• The legal work is done. The path is clear. Now it is up to political leaders to act.
• And I can assure you, we — as an organisation — stand ready to set it up together with Ukraine and other partners.

From the Register of Damage to the Special Tribunal, the message is the same: justice is essential, and local democracy matters — even in wartime. Especially in wartime.

Today, in Ukraine and across Europe, participatory initiatives like citizens’ assemblies are bringing people closer to the decisions that shape their lives.

There are more citizens’ assemblies than ever before — and it is not just about the numbers. It is about the range of issues they take on:

• Climate change.
• Abortion.
• Same-sex marriage.
• Assisted dying.

As the Congress has noted, and I quote: “Deliberative methods have proved to work very well for specific types of problems that are difficult to resolve in a partisan electoral environment — such as polarised and long-term policy issues.”

It is definitely something we must build upon — not just to engage our citizens, but to make democracy fit for the future.

Which brings me to my final point:  We cannot meet today’s challenges with only yesterday’s playbook.

That is why the 10 Reykjavík Principles of Democracy matter — as a vision for the future.

The Secretary General’s call for a New Democratic Pact for Europe is our chance to bring that vision to life — to turn principles into action.

Here, I believe the Congress has an important role to play.

• First, by helping people to learn and live democracy.

Local authorities can work hand in hand with schools and youth organisations — making civic education real, relevant, and rooted in everyday life.

• Second, by protecting democracy.

The Congress monitors how states uphold the Charter of Local Self-Government. It observes elections. And when it issues recommendations, they must lead to change.

Stronger cooperation with the Parliamentary Assembly can also help ensure that happens.

• Third, by innovating for democracy.

The Congress has led the way on deliberative tools to tackle polarised issues, and bring people into the democratic process when traditional politics struggles to deliver.

This is how we can make democracy more resilient, more participatory, more trusted.

Delegates,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

As we look to the future, let us never forget that local democracy is our first line of defence.

This session has made that clear once again. With very timely debates — including on Türkiye and Georgia.

We have taken careful note of the important statements made by the Congress regarding the arrest of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu, who I had the pleasure of meeting in September last year here in Strasbourg.

We are of course following the situation closely and are in contact with the relevant authorities to stress the importance of respecting the principles and values of the Council of Europe.

And we see that Congress is stepping up wherever democracy is under pressure.

• By helping to keep dialogue open with authorities and local associations.
• By providing support and deliver action-oriented recommendations.
• And by helping member states move closer to our Council of Europe standards.

Yes, local democracy is and will continue to be our first line of defence.

• It is local democracy that pushes back against democratic backsliding.
• That stands up to polarisation and disinformation — online and offline.
• That tackles key issues such as climate change — where it happens, where it hurts.
• And that builds trust where it matters most — in people’s daily lives.

At the end, let us never forget that this is not just about institutions; it is about people. And about trust. And the future we want to build together.

Thank you.