The Secretary General of the 46-member Council of Europe, Alain Berset, has concluded his first official visit to Greece.
During his two-day visit to Athens, which concluded on 10 February, the Secretary General met with the President of the Hellenic Republic Konstantinos Tasoulas, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, Foreign Affairs Minister Georgios Gerapetritis, and members of the Greek delegation to the Council of Europe’s Parliamentary Assembly.
Greece’s regional and global role
The visit provided an opportunity to discuss Greece’s role as a current non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council, notably in promoting democracy and respect for international law at the global level.
Exchanges also covered regional developments, relations with neighbouring countries and migration, drawing on Greece’s extensive experience in this field. The Secretary General welcomed Greece’s consistent support for international law and its firm commitment to the independence of the European Court of Human Rights.
Democracy under pressure in a complex security environment
Discussions further focused on Greece’s role as a key democratic actor at the crossroads of Europe, the Eastern Mediterranean and the wider Middle East and North Africa region, and on its contribution to upholding European standards and multilateralism.
The Secretary General and his interlocutors shared a common assessment that democracy across Europe is under growing pressure, in a context marked by heightened geopolitical tensions and security challenges.
“Greece has given us democracy. Now we must strengthen democracy in Europe, together,” the Secretary General said.
Particular attention was paid to challenges to democratic resilience, including disinformation, the role of social media, and the impact of emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence on democratic processes.
Visit to Delphi and Lord Byron award
As part of his visit, the Secretary General travelled to Delphi, a site symbolising dialogue, foresight and reflection at the heart of European civilisation and democratic thought.
On Monday evening 9 February, at the University of Athens, the Secretary General received the Lord Byron international prize from the Society for Hellenism and Philhellenism. The prize is awarded annually to distinguished international figures whose careers reflect the core values of Hellenism as embodied by Lord Byron, the Philhellene poet who died in Missolonghi during the Greek War of Independence. The Secretary General donated the monetary portion of the prize to the Ukrainian Red Cross Society.
Greece and the Council of Europe
Secretary General Alain Berset
The Council of Europe’s support for Ukraine
