About a New Democratic Pact for Europe

Motto: “The
freedom and happiness of man are the sole objects of all legitimate government.” – Thomas Jefferson  

On
13-14 May 2025, in Luxembourg, the Committee of Ministers of the Council of
Europe (CoE) discussed on the “Role of
the Council of Europe in the new geopolitical context”. The biggest
challenge is “how to restore citizens’
trust in democracy”, in an international landscape where “the democratic backsliding has become a defining trend in
European and global politics” (“Building a New Democratic
Pact”, concept note 3 February 2025).

The world of
today reminds me of the book “The Perfect Storm” by American
author Sebastian Junger. This time is not about fighting a terrible storm on
the ocean, but a combination of major disruptions: war, the most significant geopolitical challenges
since the end of the Cold War, spectacular changes in global economy and social
life, a triple planetary crisis
(climate change, pollution and biodiversity loss), disinformation, rapid
technological change, retreat from multilateralism, democratic backsliding.

Symptoms of democratic decline include
extremism, polarization and public distrust in institutions. Among its causes
are decreased participation in political life, loss of faith in electoral
processes, socio-economic insecurity, digital isolation and ideological bubbles
which limits critical debate. Europe
is not immune to any of them. The continent witnesses a fragmentation that
erodes values, freedoms, rule of law and security architecture.

In quest for
solutions,
Alain Berset, Secretary
General of the Council of Europe and former President of Switzerland, calls for strengthening “democratic security”.
A concept that was first mentioned in the Vienna Declaration of CoE
Summit, on 9 October 1993: “We intend to render the Council of Europe fully
capable of thus contributing to democratic security as well as meeting the
challenges of society in the 21st century, giving expression in the legal field
to the values that define our European identity, and to fostering an
improvement in the quality of life”.

Democratic security means free and fair
elections, independent courts, free media, anti-corruption frameworks, social
justice and active participation in public life. It reconciles tension between democracy and security in decisions taken by
governments and other international actors.

The Council of Europe was founded in
1949 for difficult times, but in 2025 the threat is no just military, it is a
crisis of order. On 16 May, Alain Berset, who was attending the European
Political Community (EPC) Summit in Tirana, Albania, wrote on X platform: “Terrorism, migration, cybercrime,
disinformation, and foreign influence. Democratic security is on everyone’s
lips. Momentum is building @EPC_Tirana. We must act or others will decide for
us. A New Democratic Pact for Europe is possible. Let’s make democratic
security its foundation”.

More than 40 European heads of state and government attended
the EPC Summit whose agenda included security, stability, and democratic
resilience. CoE has the experience,
skills, standards and geographical scope to be the beacon of democratic
security in Europe. EPC, a forum for political and strategic discussions about
the future of Europe, can provide political weight. And the New Democratic Pact might be the right
tool to bring all these assets together, creating synergy and convergence
between the two structures.

In a
recently published book, “Equality. What it means and why it matters”, two of the world most influential thinkers,
French economist Thomas Piketty and American political philosopher Michael J.
Sandel, reflect on when market logic should end and social
values should begin, and what can be
done at a time of deep political instability to narrow the gaps that separate
people: “In Europe, the richest 10% own a third of the income and half of the
property on the continent… The three levels of inequality – economic (access to
health, education, food, free movement), political (right to vote, power,
participation) and dignity of the person (status, respect, recognition, honor)
– are intertwined”. They also assert that: “Finding our way beyond the
polarized politics of our time require a reckoning with merit… Meritocracy that
ignores the common good becomes false meritocracy.” 

Understanding the relation between democracy and
economic and social realities is important for correcting democratic
backsliding. The New Democratic Pact for Europe recognizes that the coming years
will be crucial for determining how Europe responds to ongoing social, health
and environmental challenges affecting its future, and devotes an entire
chapter to social justice and equality. The Pact has two dimensions: one domestic – improving democracy in its
Member States, and another one external – by which the Council of Europe
consolidates its reputation as advocate for democracy beyond European borders.

As
CoE aligns
its external action with the UN Agenda 2030 for Sustainable Development, applying the principles of
subsidiarity and unity in diversity when engaging in relations with the rest of
the world will offer more leverage to promote its values, standards and open conventions. The
United Nations is a major partner of the Council of Europe and an ideal
platform for global outreach, and the decision to establish a Liaison Office
with the UN in New York is part of this new approach.

Each country has its unique history,
culture, traditions and identity. We are different because we have evolved in
different socio-cultural environments, but this diversity is a richness.
President Kennedy once said: “Experience
has taught us that no one nation has the power or the wisdom to solve all the
problems of the world, no free people can be kept free without will and energy
of their own, and no two nations or situations are exactly alike.” (Special
Message to the US Congress, 25 May 1961).

If
we want democracy to remain a unifying ideal adapted to the evolving societies
in Europe and beyond, we should focus on
what unites us rather than what divides us, on building bridges across ideological divides,
and on reinvigorating the societal cohesion. Our message must be that democracy
is not just a system; it is our way of life. But as Alain Berset put it: “We cannot meet today’s challenges with
yesterday’s playbook. What Europe needs is a reset”. 

In one of his
first public statements after the validation of mandate, the new President of
Romania, Nicușor Dan, said: “I promise to
be a president who defends democracy, fundamental rights and the rule of law. I
will work with determination so that every citizen feels protected, respected
and free. We have the duty to build a stronger, fairer and united Romania”.

A message that
resonates with the roadmap
towards a New Democratic Pact for Europe,
whose purpose is not to reinvent democracy, but to reinforce its
foundations, amplify its benefits, and innovate its instruments to better serve present and future generations.