The New Democratic Pact for Europe, launched by the Council of Europe at the instigation of its Secretary General Alain Berset, aims to address the crisis of confidence affecting European democratic institutions.
One year after the publication of the first report in 2025, the Council of Europe is continuing its consultations and initiatives in 2026 to strengthen democratic resilience in the face of conflicts, disinformation and political tensions across the continent.
A project launched against a backdrop of multiple crises
The New Democratic Pact project was officially presented in May 2025 with the publication of the report ‘Towards a New Democratic Pact for Europe’, the first major policy document of Alain Berset’s term as head of the Council of Europe.
In his introductory message, the Secretary General describes a Europe facing a mounting series of crises: the war in Ukraine, geopolitical tensions, democratic backsliding, disinformation, the rise of nationalism and rapid technological change. He believes that these phenomena are undermining democratic institutions and fuelling public mistrust of the authorities.
Alain Berset emphasises in particular that European security can no longer be viewed solely from a military perspective. In his view, the continent’s stability also depends on the strength of its institutions, the rule of law, the independence of the judiciary and democratic trust. “Without democratic security, no defence system is strong enough and no army powerful enough to ensure our security,” he writes in the report.
The text marks a shift in tone within the Council of Europe, an organisation founded in 1949 to defend human rights, democracy and the rule of law on the European continent.
Democracy as a security issue
The report, published in 2025, expands on the concept of ‘democratic security’, which has become central to the Council of Europe’s discourse. This concept is based on the idea that a weakened democracy is a factor in political and social instability.
The document highlights several threats identified in member states: pressure on the media, foreign interference, disinformation, the erosion of civil liberties, violence against journalists, restrictions on the right to protest, and the weakening of citizen participation.
The Council of Europe also highlights the risks associated with artificial intelligence, digital surveillance and cyber threats. The report argues that digital technologies are profoundly transforming democracies and require new legal safeguards to protect fundamental rights.
A large part of the document is devoted to freedom of expression and media freedom. The Council of Europe notes an increase in political and economic pressure on public media in several member states, as well as a rise in abusive prosecutions against journalists.
The report also addresses disinformation campaigns linked to the war in Ukraine and the risks of information manipulation during elections. According to the Council of Europe, the weakening of traditional media and the widespread dissemination of misleading content on social media are exacerbating political polarisation.
Concerns regarding civil liberties
The 2025 report also addresses restrictions on the right to demonstrate and freedom of association observed in several European countries.
The Council of Europe cites, in particular, the excessive use of force against demonstrators, the arrests of activists and laws restricting the activities of civil society organisations.
Several passages refer to so-called ‘foreign influence’ laws, adopted or under consideration in certain states, which impose additional constraints on organisations funded from abroad. The Council of Europe considers that these measures may weaken civil society and limit democratic pluralism.
The text also places significant emphasis on young people, civic education and democratic participation. The Council of Europe believes that the political disengagement of younger generations constitutes a major challenge for European democracies.
A conference in Chişinău to continue consultations
On 29 April 2026, the Council of Europe continued this discussion at an international conference held in Chişinău, in the Republic of Moldova, dedicated to multilevel governance and democratic resilience.
The Vice-President of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities, Andrew Boff, stated there that effective multi-level governance constituted “an essential political choice” in the face of declining trust in democratic institutions. In his view, reforms must enable better coordination between national, regional and local authorities in order to bring institutions closer to citizens.
The British official also highlighted the Council of Europe’s role in supporting local reforms in Ukraine, Armenia, Albania and the Republic of Moldova.
This conference was held within the framework of the New Democratic Pact for Europe and Moldova’s chairmanship of the Council of Europe’s Committee of Ministers.
Three pillars for the Democratic Pact
The Council of Europe is now structuring the New Democratic Pact around three main objectives: learning democracy, protecting democracy and innovating for democracy.
The first pillar concerns citizenship education and civic participation. The second aims to strengthen protections against threats to democratic institutions, notably corruption, electoral interference and disinformation campaigns. The third is based on the development of new forms of democratic participation, notably through digital tools and participatory mechanisms.
The Council of Europe also wishes to develop more inclusive policies on equality, youth, social rights and media freedom.
A summit expected in 2026
The process underway is set to culminate in a summit of heads of state and government scheduled for the end of 2026. The stated aim is to transform the consultations into concrete proposals to strengthen European democracies in the long term.
The Council of Europe thus aims to make the New Democratic Pact a long-term political framework capable of addressing the crisis of democratic confidence that has been affecting Europe for several years.
