Democratic backsliding, disinformation, impunity, and authoritarianism are undermining democracy in Europe. People are increasingly afraid and frustrated. They see the international rules-based order that has built and secured our democratic societiesunravelling before their eyes.
It comes at a time when democratic security – the resilience of our democratic institutions, freedoms, and values – is our first line of defence against the threats we face.
A collective response is needed. There is no quick fix and no single solution.
With the New Democratic Pact, the Council of Europe unites with its partners to boost solutions that work and create new responses. To identify them, consultations are needed.
The Pact will serve as a collective and inclusive process – not to reinvent democracy, but to reinforce its foundations, amplify its benefits, and innovate its form to make it tangible for everyone, especially younger generations. The directions set during the consultation phase running through 2026 will shape the work that follows.
Focus
Registrations open: Hack the Hate, Renew Democracy!
Registrations are now open for Hack the Hate, Renew Democracy!, the second edition of the Hackathon of the Council of Europe taking place in Strasbourg from 17 to 19 June 2026. Interdisciplinary teams will be selected to co-create practical, technology-driven solutions to combat hate speech in online spaces. Hate speech silences people. It curbs participation, erodes social cohesion and poses a direct threat to democracy.
Held jointly with the third edition of the No Hate Speech Week, the hackathon will host 80 participants who will have the opportunity connect with 120 experts of the field, ranging from civil society to national authorities and academics to co-create concrete tools and systems.
The ultimate outcome is a Europe of 46 countries where democracy works better, reaches further and includes everyone. A Europe where citizens feel heard, empowered and protected. A Europe that proves – through action – that democracy is not only worth believing in, but worth building every day.
How do we get there?
The New Democratic Pact for Europe is a strategic and political process which will:
Engage
Europe
consulting governments, citizen organisations, and the public- to strengthen Europe’s democracies.
Empower
member states
to lead their own democratic journeys with national action plans tailored to local needs and exchanges among them.
Apply
common parameters
agreed at the Reykjavík Summit to assess and strengthen democratic systems.
Turn dialogue
into action
delivering concrete reforms and fresh practices that will make democracy thrive.
Prospective workshops and thematic seminars will be co-organised with civil society, think-tanks, universities, and international bodies
All Council of Europe bodies – the Secretary General and the entire secretariat, the Committee of Ministers, the Parliamentary Assembly, the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities and Convention bodies – are mobilising their capacities and networks to contribute throughout this pilot phase, until the end of 2026, and to help shape the Pact’s long-term direction beyond it.
We cannot meet today’s challenges with yesterday’s playbook. And we must never forget that democracy is our first line of defence. What Europe needs is a reset: a New Democratic Pact for Europe.
Alain Berset
Secretary General of the Council of Europe
