As delivered by Marija Pejčinović Burić, Secretary General of the Council of Europe

Minister,

President of the Parliamentary Assembly,

Excellencies,

Distinguished guests,

Ladies and gentlemen,

It is now almost 75 years since the 750 attendees of the Congress of Europe met in the Hague.

To hear their names is to hear a roll call of visionaries who changed the trajectory of history.

Adenauer, Churchill, Schuman, Spinelli,
de Madariaga.

Today, in the eyes of many, the structures of modern Europe are familiar, functional –
even mundane.

In fact, they are nothing of the sort.

No continent had ever before brought together such a group of leaders for a purpose like this.

None had agreed far-reaching political, cultural and economic and social resolutions of the kind endorsed here in this city.

And none had held debates and discussions that would shape institutions charged with delivering on those sentiments.

And nurturing the knowledge, rights and interests of citizens on a continental scale.

The College of Europe.

The European Union.

The Council of Europe.

All of these grew from the extraordinary ambition, determination and vision of those who gathered in the Hague in 1948.

Since that time, the expansion of European institutions has brought an unprecedented period of peace and prosperity to those countries who have joined them.

This has been – and continues to be – a unique achievement.

But history teaches us that nothing should be taken for granted.

And today there is no doubt that the European dream is troubled.

The Russian Federation’s brutal, illegal and ongoing aggression against Ukraine is proof of that.

It has brought violence back to Europe in a way – and on a scale – not seen since the Second World War.

The consequences have been appalling.

Hundreds of thousands have been killed.

Hundreds of thousands more injured, tortured or raped.

And millions of Ukrainians are living at home in fear –

While millions more have fled as refugees in search of safety.

The political, economic and security shock waves have rocked the whole continent –

A reminder of the fragility of peace and the misery always unleashed by violence.

Our Organisation ‒ the Council of Europe ‒ was established to foster that peace on the basis of greater unity among its member states –

Peace underpinned by common European standards in human rights, democracy and the rule of law.

But for Ukraine that promise has not held.

In attacking that country, Russia cast aside European values and embraced the politics of violence.

By doing so, it made its exclusion from the Council of Europe inevitable –

And outside the European Convention on Human Rights, its citizens now live without the protections from which they should benefit.

We cannot right Russian wrongs.

Determination, compromise and political will are required to live by European values and to uphold European standards –

And, ultimately, these must come from within.

What we can do –

And must do –

Is stand in solidarity with our member state, Ukraine.

From the outset of the aggression, I have been clear that the Council of Europe is unwavering in its support for Ukraine’s right to choose its own future –

And to do so on the basis of its sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity.

Equally, I have been clear that we will do everything that we can in practical terms to support the country and its people.

For example, we have agreed a new joint Action Plan on Resilience, Recovery and Reconstruction –

Meeting Ukraine’s specific needs at this particular time –

And as the situation unfolds.

We are providing support to those other member states that have received refugees and that are doing their best to provide structural and psychological support to those in need.

And, moving forward, we are determined that instead of impunity, there will be accountability for the crimes that have taken place –

And which continue –

In Ukraine.

That is why our experts are supporting the Ukrainian Prosecutor General’s investigations into serious human rights violations –

And why this Organisation should establish a register of damage –

Drawing on the European Court of Human Rights’ experience, expertise and case law –

As the basis for any future compensation mechanism.

All parts of this Organisation are playing their part –

From the Committee of Ministers to the Parliamentary Assembly, to the Human Rights Commissioner –

And from the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities, to the Development Bank and beyond.

I know that our support for Ukraine will be among the issues addressed by today’s European leaders when they meet at the Council of Europe’s Fourth Summit of Heads of States and Governments in May.

That Summit will be an important moment for our member states to recommit to the values that underpin our work –

And to be clear on the Organisation’s role and priorities in light of the geopolitical changes brought about by Russia’s aggression.

I welcome this strongly.

Other international organisations will be asking themselves similar questions –

And they are right to do so.

But what must not be questioned is multilateralism itself.

Leaders at the Congress of Europe understood its importance.

When they advocated pooling sovereignty, they were making the case for international co-operation –

Rejecting shallow thinking and short-term self-interest –

And embracing the opportunity to work together for the resolution of problems –

And the opportunity to reach bigger, higher goals.

This culture of multilateralism underpins not just the Council of Europe –

But the EU, the OSCE and other international organisations that work in the interests of people throughout Europe.

Can it last?

Certainly.

Will it?

This again is a matter of political will.

For while Russia’s aggression is a rejection of the multilateral ethos, it is in truth part of a bigger problem.

Over recent years, we have seen a rise in extreme populism and nationalism in parts of our continent.

Those who take this narrow view often target multilateralism and the institutions that underpin it.

For political leaders –

And indeed for citizens –

I hope that the suffering of Ukraine will be taken as a lesson on the need to steer back towards multilateralism –

And reorientate our direction towards peace and democratic security.

The Pax Romana featured periodic violence.

My hope is that the current aggression in Europe will also prove to be an anomaly –

And that when –

Centuries from now –

People look back at this period of history –

They will see a Pax Europaea –

Heralded at the Congress of Europe –

And reaffirmed by twenty-first century leaders.

That future is ours to choose.

We must do so.