Watch the film of the lecture given by Alain Berset, Secretary General of the Council of Europe, during his visit to the University of Lausanne.
The Jean Monnet Foundation, in partnership with the University of Lausanne, welcomed Alain Berset, Secretary General of the Council of Europe, for a special conference on security and the preservation of the continent’s democratic foundations.
After welcoming remarks by Frédéric Herman, Rector of the University of Lausanne, Jacques de Watteville, Vice-President of the Foundation, and Roger de Weck, the Foundation’s new President and the moderator, Alain Berset spoke about the major changes in the world since 2008, marked by numerous crises that he described as creating a ‘perfect storm’. He warned that Europe could move from a system based on law to one where the most powerful impose their own rules.
Faced with rising tensions and rearmament, he defended the idea of democratic security. In his view, military force can only protect our freedoms if it is underpinned by strong institutions, such as independent courts and free media. He therefore called for investment in these institutions to be taken as seriously as investment in military defence.
In concrete terms, the Council of Europe is working on initiatives such as the Damage Register for Ukraine and agreements to combat disinformation in order to protect the integrity of elections.
Finally, he emphasised the importance of Switzerland’s experience in dialogue and minority integration for resolving conflicts in Europe. He warned that Europe could shift from a rights-based system to one where the most powerful impose their will. He was optimistic, predicting that with effort, Europe could be stronger in ten years, provided it does not become accustomed to the unacceptable and holds to its values.
The conference continued with a discussion with Roger de Weck, followed by a Q&A session with the large audience.
The conference was held at Amphimax 350 and 351, to a capacity crowd, at the University of Lausanne.
Watch the lecture live below:
With the support of La Loterie Romande
