Democratic backsliding, disinformation, impunity, and authoritarianism are undermining democracy in Europe. People are increasingly afraid and frustrated. They see the international rules-based order that has built and secured our democratic societiesunravelling before their eyes.
It comes at a time when democratic security – the resilience of our democratic institutions, freedoms, and values – is our first line of defence against the threats we face.
A collective response is needed. There is no quick fix and no single solution.
With the New Democratic Pact, the Council of Europe unites with its partners to boost solutions that work and create new responses. To identify them, consultations are needed.
The Pact will serve as a collective and inclusive process – not to reinvent democracy, but to reinforce its foundations, amplify its benefits, and innovate its form to make it tangible for everyone, especially younger generations. The directions set during the consultation phase running through 2026 will shape the work that follows.
Focus
Join us for the Public Hearing on the Reykjavik Parameters for Democracy!
Are you interested in safeguarding Europe’s democratic security?
Do you wish to hear from experts what safeguards are needed to uphold democracy, the rule of law and human rights as protection against democratic backsliding?
The ultimate outcome is a Europe of 46 countries where democracy works better, reaches further and includes everyone. A Europe where citizens feel heard, empowered and protected. A Europe that proves – through action – that democracy is not only worth believing in, but worth building every day.
How do we get there?
The New Democratic Pact for Europe is a strategic and political process which will:
Engage
Europe
consulting governments, citizen organisations, and the public- to strengthen Europe’s democracies.
Empower
member states
to lead their own democratic journeys with national action plans tailored to local needs and exchanges among them.
Apply
common parameters
agreed at the Reykjavík Summit to assess and strengthen democratic systems.
Turn dialogue
into action
delivering concrete reforms and fresh practices that will make democracy thrive.
Prospective workshops and thematic seminars will be co-organised with civil society, think-tanks, universities, and international bodies
All Council of Europe bodies – the Secretary General and the entire secretariat, the Committee of Ministers, the Parliamentary Assembly, the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities and Convention bodies – are mobilising their capacities and networks to contribute throughout this pilot phase, until the end of 2026, and to help shape the Pact’s long-term direction beyond it.
We cannot meet today’s challenges with yesterday’s playbook. And we must never forget that democracy is our first line of defence. What Europe needs is a reset: a New Democratic Pact for Europe.
Alain Berset
Secretary General of the Council of Europe
