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Speech by Bjørn Berge, Deputy Secretary General of the Council of Europe

Mr Turel, Mayor of Nova Gorica (Slovenia) and Mr Ziberna, Mayor of Gorizia (Italy), Ambassador Mrak,

Excellencies,

Dear friends,

I am delighted to be here to open this exhibition, an emblem of what can be achieved when different cities and different countries work together.

And not any given cities and countries, but different cities and countries, long separated by history, now brought closer together through culture– and united by the idea and values of Europe.

The selection of Nova Gorica, in Slovenia, and Gorizia, in Italy, as joint European Capitals of Culture, was therefore no coincidence.

These two towns represent so much of European history, while embodying the rich heritage of their region.

At the end of World War I, Gorizia, including what is now Nova Gorica, previously part of Austria, became part of Italy.

But at the end of World War II, the region of Gorizia was carved in two.

A border sliced through the town, dividing families, dividing friends, and dividing democratic Italy from communist Yugoslavia.

The partition was concrete and physical separating each side.

For thirty years, until it was moved a few metres, the border cut through a cemetery, separating families even in death.

On one side of the border was a founding member of the Council of Europe — Italy.

And on the other side, Slovenia — then a part of Yugoslavia, the Cold War dividing Italian citizens from their Yugoslavian neighbours.

But in 1991, Slovenia gained its independence, and two years later it joined the Council of Europe.

Dear friends,

More than 75 years after the Council of Europe was born out of the ruins of the Second World War, we find ourselves once more buffeted by a storm of challenges.

We face — to use the word of the moment — a rupture in the world order.

In Ukraine, Russia’s war of aggression continues unabated.

And across Europe, fear is spreading as misinformation filling gaps and crises accelerate.

Power politics are reappearing and affecting current alliances.

We must combat these threats by putting human rights, democracy and the rule of law first — and by uniting in their defence. And culture is such a powerful means to do so. As Gorizia and Nova Gorica show us.

And last year, Nova Gorica and Gorizia jointly and proudly presented their history, traditions and culture to the world.

More than 900 events were held, including parades, opera, dancing, music and exhibitions, some of them represented in the posters we see here today.

“Go! 2025” was the name of the initiative, and it was a true celebration of unity — and again, I congratulate you on the European capitals of culture for 2025.

It was a celebration of shared European values and a history that proves — over and over again — that in Europe we have more in common than that which divides us.

That we are stronger together.

And that we belong together.

I thank you.