Representatives of 16 Council of Europe's intergovernmental committees met in Strasbourg today to examine what democratic security should mean in today's Europe and how their work needs to adapt.
"We pursue security through democracy, human rights and the rule of law, never at their expense", said Council of Europe Deputy Secretary General Tanja Gonggrijp, opening the exchange. Even in the current circumstances, there is reason for hope, she argued. "Most episodes of autocratisation over the past thirty years have been reversed. Backsliding is not destiny", concluded Deputy Secretary General.
The exchange is part of the consultations towards the New Democratic Pact for Europe, launched in 2025 to respond to democratic backsliding. First set out at the 1993 Vienna Summit, the concept of democratic security rests on the principle that security is pursued through democracy, human rights and the rule of law, never at their expense.
The concept now needs to reflect new pressures, from military aggression and foreign interference to disinformation, the risks posed by artificial intelligence and declining trust in institutions. Yet, there are also reasons for hope: historical evidence shows that 70% of episodes of autocratisation over the past 30 years have been reversed.
Bringing together expertise in diverse fields ranging from constitutional law, anti-corruption, emerging technologies and media freedom to social rights, gender equality and youth, participants representinga range of inter-governmental steering committees and monitoring bodies of the Council of Europe, discussed the meaning of democratic security in the current context and the root causes of backsliding on human rights on the continent. They also looked at how the organisation’s expert bodies can co-operate more closely on cross-cutting issues and respond to drivers of change, new trends and the growing influence of private and non-state actors on democratic governance.
Foresight experts led scenario-based and horizon-scanning exercises, supported the committees in methods on how to build long-term planning into their work and to move from identifying challenges to exploring opportunities for strengthening democratic security.