Held on 28 and 29 October 2025 as part of the Policy Programme of the Maltese Presidency of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe, the Lisbon Forum 2025, titled “AI and Global Governance: Rights, Representativity and Readiness” underscored AI’s growing impact in transforming societies as well as reshaping the ways people communicate, learn, govern, and interact.

Recalling the Reykjavik Declaration, the New Democratic Pact for Europe, and the role of the North-South Centre as a key instrument for promoting the external dimension of the Council of Europe, the Forum marked a milestone under the NSC’s medium-term strategy. It was the first global dialogue of its kind dedicated to bridging digital divides between the North and South, fostering cooperation, and promoting internationally recognised standards and good practices in AI governance.

Taking place between two landmark international events — the 2025 AI Action Summit hosted by France and the upcoming India AI Impact Summit 2026, the first-ever global AI summit in the Global South — the Lisbon Forum brought together 250 participants from Europe, Africa, the Middle East, Latin America, and Asia. Participants included government officials, policymakers, representatives of international and regional organisations, civil society, youth representatives, private sector leaders, and thematic experts.

Workshops were conducted by the Council of Europe (DG1 – Directorate General of Human Rights and Rule of Law) and partner organisations such as the Arab ICT Organization (AICTO), the Global Partnership on AI (GPAI) Expert Community, and the European Institute of the Mediterranean (IEMed).

As a result of the Forum the Lisbon Forum Declaration on AI and Global Governance was presented to all participants, leaving it open for their contributions.

This edition was organised by the North-South Centre of the Council of Europe and relied on support from the joint programme between the European Union and the Council of Europe "Protecting human rights, rule of law and democracy through shared standards in the Southern Mediterranean" (South Programme V), co-financed by both organisations.

In this context, the South Programme V held its final Steering Committee meeting ahead of the Lisbon Forum. The programme is a cornerstone partnership between Europe and the Southern Mediterranean, promoting human rights and the rule of law across the region. Its next phase, South Programme VI (November 2025-December 2028), will include artificial intelligence among its key priorities, accompanying partner authorities in the region towards digital transition in line with international standards.