Statement by H.E. Eglantina Gjermeni, Ambassador, Permanent Representative

in response to the  Address by the Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Mr. Alain Berset

Meeting 1568th of the Permanent Council, 11 June 2026, Vienna

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Secretary General Berset,

Colleagues,

I join others in thanking Secretary General Alain Berset for his comprehensive address and for his continued leadership at a time when Europe faces profound challenges to democracy, security and the rules-based international order.

Against this backdrop, the Democratic Pact for Europe represents a timely and important response to the growing pressures facing democratic institutions across our continent.

Albania strongly supports this initiative and shares the conviction that democratic resilience and security are mutually reinforcing. A stronger Council of Europe, a robust European Court of Human Rights and a European Convention that is respected and effectively implemented remain indispensable pillars of peace, stability and democratic governance across our continent.

In this spirit, we welcome the Council of Europe’s unwavering engagement in support of Ukraine. The Register of Damage, the Claims Commission and, most recently, the establishment of the Special Tribunal for the Crime of Aggression, endorsed during the Ministerial Session in Chisinau, demonstrate the Organisation’s capacity to translate principles into concrete mechanisms of accountability.

Albania welcomes the Council of Europe’s focus on the growing challenge of foreign information manipulation and interference. At a time when disinformation and malign influence increasingly undermine democratic institutions and public trust, the Council of Europe can make a valuable contribution through its expertise, standards and experience in strengthening democratic resilience.

We also welcome the Council of Europe’s recent efforts to develop standards addressing the implications of artificial intelligence and digital technologies for equality and the protection of women and girls, an area of growing importance for democratic societies.

More broadly, the partnership between the Council of Europe and the OSCE remains indispensable in responding to the complex challenges facing our continent. While our organisations have distinct mandates, they are mutually reinforcing in advancing democratic resilience, human rights, the rule of law and comprehensive security. In this regard, making full use of our respective strengths, improving coordination and avoiding unnecessary duplication is particularly important at a time of increasing demands and limited resources.

This complementarity is also reflected in practical engagement between our organizations.

As Chair of the OSCE Human Dimension Committee, Albania appreciated the participation of PACE President Petra Bayr in the Committee’s discussion on “Gender Equality and Political Representation”. Her contribution enriched the discussion with perspectives from the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe and highlighted issues that are of common concern to both our organisations.

Secretary General,

Albania reiterates its firm support for the membership of Kosova in the Council of Europe. The Council of Europe is strongest when its standards, monitoring mechanisms and legal protections extend to all democratic societies committed to its values and obligations. In this regard, the membership of Kosova would strengthen the protection of the rights of its citizens through direct access to the mechanisms of the European Convention on Human Rights and further advance the Council of Europe’s mission of ensuring that its standards and protections are available to all people in Europe.

We believe that this objective remains fully consistent with the values, purpose and long-term credibility of the Organisation.

At a time of growing geopolitical uncertainty, the contribution of both the Council of Europe and the OSCE remains as important as ever.

Albania highly values the work of both organisations and firmly believes that their complementary roles make an essential contribution to promoting democracy, human rights, the rule of law and security across our continent.

We wish you, Secretary General, and your team every success in your important work.

Thank you.