The 75th anniversaries

of the Council of Europe and NATO

as pillars of democratic security

Chamber of Deputies, Rome, 11 November 2024

Welcome remarks by Theodoros Rousopoulos

President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe

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Distinguished guests,

I am immensely happy that my presidency of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe coincides with the celebration of three-quarters of a century of the Council’s existence.

This occasion gives me a unique opportunity to express my deep dedication to this institution.

If I were to summarize the history of the Council of Europe in three statements, they would be:

·         An engine of European unification,

·         A custodian of shared values, and

·         A guarantor of dialogue and compromise on the European continent.

At its 75th anniversary, the Council of Europe can indeed be proud of its achievements. The values it establishes and promotes through its various bodies set moral and political benchmarks not only in Europe but around the world.

Ladies and gentlemen,

In 1943, right in the middle of the Second World War, while the battles were still ranging and the future of Europe was still uncertain Winston Churchill stated on BBC Radio that after the victory he was convinced to come, the European family should unite under a supranational umbrella. Later, he was one of the first to call for the creation of “United States of Europe” and in 1949, he stood on a balcony overlooking Place Kléber in Strasbourg, addressing thousands of Alsatians who enthusiastically welcomed him as he announced the founding of the Council of Europe.

Strasbourg, a city marked by the scars of two world wars, was chosen as the Council's headquarters, transforming the historical tension of looking across the Rhine into a shared vision for a prosperous future.

Reconciliation began to build a better future from the ruins of hatred. The participation of member states in the Council of Europe has allowed for the achievement of numerous cultural milestones and has evolved our perspectives and mentalities for the better.

To this day, the organisation serves as an essential gateway for any country aspiring to join the European Union, which requires adherence to the Council's principles and values.

We owe to the Council of Europe the abolition of the death penalty, the fight against racism, the protection of freedom of expression, the safeguarding of cultural diversity and minority rights, the defense of children's rights, and the combat against violence against women, to name just a few achievements.

Migration, environmental threats, and populism are challenges we continuously face.

Just a few months ago, the world's first convention on artificial intelligence and the risks it poses to democracy came into effect, initiated by the Council, and already signed by the EU and dozens of other countries.

Membership in the Council of Europe does not grant a place in a club of flawless democracies forever, but rather places one in a community committed to safeguarding and advancing the achievements of democracy.

This organisation, faithful to its principles and values, does not turn a blind eye to violations of its founding statute and the European Convention on Human Rights,whose 75th anniversary we will celebrate in 2025.

Persistent political pressure has been applied against violators of our founding principles, reminding us that the Council’s commitment to democracy, human rights, and the rule of law remains unwavering.

The full-scale aggression against Ukraine by the Russian Federation in 2022 posed a severe test for the Council of Europe. However, the Council swiftly decided to expel Russia, underscoring the importance of unity around shared values.

It became clear that “in the common European home, there is no place for an aggressor.” I had the honor of participating in the session where we decided to expel Russia from our organisation, becoming the only international organisation to take such an uncompromised step.

Since then, the Parliamentary Assembly, included my presidency, has acted decisively to support the Ukrainian people, promoting the idea of the International Tribunal for the Crime of Aggression and working on establishing a Register of Damages and the commission of claims.

I am in communication with the President of the International Committee of the Red Cross and the team in Geneva, where a special unit is in charge to search for and locate missing children from Ukraine.

We have been and remain active beyond European borders in condemning the violence and atrocities in the Middle East, seeking peaceful solutions where we can contribute to resolving a decades-long crisis.

Ladies and gentlemen,

I am convinced that the Council of Europe and its Parliamentary Assembly are well-equipped to address the new, multifaceted challenges that our European democracies will face in the years ahead. As Shakespeare wrote in Cymbeline, we “meet the time where it seeks us” meaning that we are prepared to face unforeseen events and challenges not with fear, but with courage and an open mind.

Thank you for organising this event that celebrates the values under which all of us are united and work for Democracy and human dignity.