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Europe cannot invest massively in defence while leaving democracy, human rights, and the rule of law for later. Europe’s security depends not only on military power, but also on democratic resilience and the strength of its common legal space.  Ensuring democratic security through law is the response to today’s hybrid threats that no country can fight alone. These were the key messages conveyed by the Council of Europe Secretary General, Alain Berset, during his two-day visit to Yerevan, where he took part in the 8th European Political Community (EPC) summit and the Yerevan dialogue forum.

Addressing hybrid threats collectively

“Hybrid threats are especially acute around elections, manipulating debate and eroding trust,” Berset said. “Our response must be to protect democracy, not weaken it. We seek to do so by safeguarding human rights, free media, and institutions – without policing speech”.

A new legal instrument on foreign information manipulation and interference (FIMI) is needed, and ministers of the Council of Europe’s 46 member states, meeting in Chișinău on 14–15 May, are expected to greenlight work to develop it, the Secretary General explained.

From political direction to concrete action

“We are looking to deepen our partnership with the European Political Community”, the Secretary General stated. “The EPC sets the political direction, as it did in Tirana in 2025, while the Council of Europe stands ready to deliver practical, action-oriented responses, grounded in a common legal space across Europe.”

The work on new legal tools to address FIMI is an example of this tandem approach.

South Caucasus: a window of opportunity is open

The EPC summit hosted by Armenia “was a testament to the country’s rightful place in the European family and its critical role in the South Caucasus”, Alain Berset stressed at the Yerevan dialogue forum.

"The presence of Türkiye’s Vice President, Cevdet Yılmaz — a historic visit in the context of Armenia–Türkiye relations — as well as the online participation of Azerbaijan’s President, Ilham Aliyev, reflected a shared recognition of the importance of dialogue and regional stability," the Secretary General stressed, calling it an important step forward.

Armenia is gearing up for this June’s parliamentary elections, which have been the target of hybrid threats, including disinformation, with interference patterns similar to those observed in several European countries.

“These elections will be yet another test of democracy’s strength in a Europe under huge pressure, both from outside and from within”, the Secretary General stressed, calling it an important step forward.

Ensuring free and fair elections, countering foreign interference, and advancing ongoing efforts towards peace are essential for the long-term stability of Armenia and its neighbourhood, Alain Berset noted, at a time of heightened tensions at its borders and across the Middle East.

Armenia: 25 years in the Council of Europe – and looking ahead

“This year marks 25 years since Armenia joined the Council of Europe”, said the Secretary General. “At a time when politics often focuses on the short term, this partnership reminds us that democratic security is built over time. Without it, no other form of security will last, and no order will hold”.

Secretary General Alain Berset

 Speech by the Secretary General