Mr. Secretary General, this summit is taking place at a difficult time for Europe. What message does it send about European unity and prosperity?
This meeting sends a message of the importance of unity. And this unity is not based on words alone, but on shared values. We live on a continent where we all share a democratic context, with strong support for the rule of law and solid protection of human rights. It is essential to be clear about this commitment and the need to cultivate it together, for our common good. We need a strong foundation of democratic security, which is a prerequisite for sustainable security for the entire continent.
How important is it that Albania is hosting this summit?
The holding of the European Political Community (EPC) meeting in Tirana these days is a very strong and particularly important signal, which includes the commitment of the Council of Europe and its 46 member states. This event underlines the joint work we are doing.
Within the Council of Europe, we are working intensively together to make Albania’s path towards membership in the European Union a reality. That is why we have an office here with 30 people working with Albania with great commitment; that is why we have a dedicated action plan; and that is why we invest significantly in these projects. All these efforts are in the function of advancing common reforms.
The Council of Europe supports the establishment of a special tribunal for crimes of aggression in Ukraine. 1 Why is this important for justice in Europe?
Accountability is truly essential. Looking at the world today, with wars, destruction and suffering everywhere, it is clear that we do not want to live in a world where violence, destruction and impunity prevail. On the contrary, we aspire to a world where stability, peaceful relations, predictability and, above all, accountability prevail.
This is precisely what we aim to achieve through the Council of Europe. First, this is done through the European Court of Human Rights. Second, through the register of damages for Ukraine, which is also essential for its reconstruction. We aim to develop the Claims Commission to address reconstruction issues, as well as to establish a special criminal tribunal. We cannot simply accept that impunity prevails.
For this reason, two days ago in Luxembourg, during the ministerial meeting of the Council of Europe, we received a letter from Ukraine asking us to take on this responsibility. Member States must unite to take forward the initiative for this special tribunal.
But we have experience with special chambers in Kosovo. There have been comparisons with the Kosovo tribunal. Are there lessons from Kosovo, where war heroes are unfortunately being treated as war crimes suspects?
I think the situations are not the same and the comparison is not right. In the case of the Russian aggression against Ukraine, the fact is that there was a broad vote and recognition at the UN level – over 140 countries have recognized it as aggression. However, no existing court has specific jurisdiction to address the crime of aggression itself. For this very reason, we should consider what can be done to ensure accountability for this crime at the end of the war, before addressing other issues.
Before we talk about other topics, I have another question regarding Kosovo. When can Kosovo become a full member of the Council of Europe?
Currently, we have a specific request under consideration. The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe has completed its work on this issue, and the request is now on the table of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe. This issue has also been discussed over the past months, including in the days leading up to the last ministerial meeting. It is now the role and duty of the Committee of Ministers – that is, of the member states – to decide how and when to deal with this request.
This is an important element, as the stability of the region is of paramount importance. All countries in the region are members of the Council of Europe, with the exception of Kosovo, for well-known reasons. At the same time, we are strongly committed to dialogue and its support. We are also committed to the European Convention on Human Rights and consider it important for citizens to have access to the European Court of Human Rights.
All these factors, including the geopolitical dimension, will certainly be at the center of the Committee of Ministers' discussions before a decision is made.
The Council has just adopted a new treaty to protect the environment through criminal law. What does this mean in practice?
The role of the Council of Europe has always been essential in anticipating future challenges and creating regulatory frameworks to address them. For example, we identified years ago the difficulties faced by lawyers. A strong rule of law cannot exist if lawyers are under pressure, attacks or threats. In response, the Council has developed a new convention for their protection.
Another important example is the Convention on Artificial Intelligence. This technology can pose threats to democracy, the rule of law and human rights, but at the same time it can also offer significant benefits. It is therefore necessary to address this issue collectively. The Council of Europe has been a pioneer in creating the first legally binding treaties on artificial intelligence and on the protection of lawyers, thus ensuring better conditions for their functioning. These initiatives demonstrate our commitment to strengthening democracy.
In your new report, you talk about a "Democratic Pact" for Europe. What are the biggest threats to democracy today?
A key problem is distrust in democratic processes and the loss of faith in democracy itself. I am particularly concerned by this growing perception, especially among the younger generations. Both in the Council of Europe and elsewhere, we see that more and more young people think that democracy may not be the best system. However, it remains the only system that enables people to achieve their aspirations. All other alternatives are harmful; although they exist, they are inadequate solutions.
We need to invest in democracy, and I understand the concerns of the younger generations. Over the past 15 years, we have witnessed multiple crises: the financial crisis, the rise of populism, the COVID-19 pandemic, the war in Ukraine since 2014 and the full-scale aggression in 2022, as well as the climate crisis. As a result, young people may have the impression that democracy is no longer offering positive prospects. This perception does not reflect reality; it stems from the consequences of these crises. This is precisely why we need stability and predictability. I think the impression that democracy is not capable of guaranteeing security is wrong, and we need to address this issue.
This is precisely what we aim to do with the "New Democratic Pact", highlighting the need for significant investment for a safer and stronger continent. You may have heard about the €800 billion package for investment in armaments and defence systems. This is positive, but it is not sustainable in the long term unless it is built on a strong foundation of democratic security. And it is precisely this essential support that the Council of Europe can provide.
Regarding democracy, the Western Balkans, all six countries want to join the EU, but these countries have many problems with the meaning of democracy...
Democracy, as you know, is not easy. As I have already pointed out, we are witnessing its decline everywhere; this is a truly global phenomenon. I am referring to challenges such as the polarization of public debate, the difficulties caused by social media and artificial intelligence, the general disillusionment, as well as the rejection of election results. It also raises the question: What does it mean to have free and fair elections in a context filled with disinformation? These are multiple challenges that we are facing around the world.
The first point is that we, as a government, need to address these issues in a transparent and straightforward manner. I know that here in the Western Balkans, it is particularly important to ensure stability and positive development. I am aware that there have recently been elections in Albania. To this end, we need observations and reports on the current situation and the functioning of democracy. Then, we need to try – and this has always been an ongoing process – to develop democratic processes that are as good and sustainable as possible. This includes ensuring that elections are always free and fair, accepting the results when they are, and cooperating with each other.
Democracy is not simply about someone winning, others losing, and then the parties never working together again. One party or coalition wins, while others may not be happy with the outcome. However, it is essential to work together, even when it is difficult. Because, after all, what is the point of all this? Even in politics, commitment is not only to personal interests, but to the people of a country. Our duty is to serve the people – that is what we do, and that is what you do, in cooperation with the Council of Europe.
Regarding the elections in Albania – have you had the opportunity to review the reports of the Council of Europe, the OSCE and the ODIHR? Based on what you have read so far, would you say that the elections in Albania meet the same standards as those in the countries of the European Union? For example, if elections with similar practices were held in Switzerland, would you consider them equally acceptable?
This is always a dynamic process. For example, we in Switzerland – and I speak here also from my experience as a former member of the Swiss government – have hosted observation missions from the OSCE and other organizations, which have often been critical of certain aspects. The key element is to address these issues transparently and then undertake the necessary reforms. If something requires reform to achieve a better system, greater security, and free and fair elections – that is the essence. This also applies to the reforms that the Council of Europe is strongly supporting, including support for Albania on its path to membership in the European Union.
It is important to identify and acknowledge existing challenges, such as money laundering, the fight against corruption, the independence of the judiciary, or even shortcomings in the electoral system. Then, we must work together to address and implement the necessary reforms. Also, we must never forget that reforms need to be implemented, not just laws passed. We must ensure that implementation is effective. This is an ongoing process, a never-ending dynamic, and that is why it is so important to have institutions where these issues can be addressed.
The Council of Europe, through its Parliamentary Assembly, Committee of Ministers and Secretariat, serves precisely this purpose. Therefore, the Secretariat and I do our utmost to support maximum opportunities for dialogue and to address together all issues, including the most difficult ones, while stressing the importance of transparency.
We are members of the same European family and it is vital to have a strong position for our continent. We will only be strong if we are united, preserving our diversity but unified around our fundamental values: democracy, the rule of law and human rights. This means accepting that there will always be discussions, often interesting ones, to find together the best way forward.
If I may, a more personal question: Given your extensive experience in politics and government, do you believe that the future of Europe looks bright, or are we heading towards more challenging times – especially given the situation in the Balkans and other related issues?
It depends on us. We have to decide now, and we are able to decide now, what will happen in 2030, that is, within a generation. I mean, we can learn from the past, because this continent has experienced a lot of suffering. This year, as you know, we are celebrating the eightieth anniversary of the end of the Second World War; nobody has forgotten that in this region, in the Western Balkans, there was a war, a brutal war 30 years ago, and now we have a war, a brutal war in Ukraine. I mean, this is the reality. We have to face this and we have to be able to learn from it.
And then, what does this mean in a world where geopolitical changes are great? What does this mean in a world where we may have the impression that the partnership with America, with the United States of America, is no longer the same as before? What does this mean in the geopolitical change where we see, therefore, large countries like China, Russia, India, like the BRICS, advancing in different directions, but with great strength? What does this mean?
It means that we must be fully aware of the fact that we are strong if we are united; secondly, that we are strong if we are able to make strong investments today for the next generation; and that we are strong if we are able to base our relations, our friendly relations, our peaceful relations, on democracy, the rule of law and human rights. And that is why it is so important to underline once again that it is good to invest in strong (conventional) security, but this makes no sense if it is not built on a solid, very solid foundation of democratic security. And this is precisely what is special about this continent. We are the only continent, I would say, so strongly developed in democratic processes. We have 46 member states in the Council of Europe without the death penalty. Just look at the rest of the world. I mean, this is also something that we should commit to and that we should also fight for.
If I may, one last question. Earlier, you mentioned the importance of upholding human rights. Albania, unfortunately, does not have a strong history of respecting the decisions of the European Court of Human Rights. What would be your advice to improve this situation?
An essential instrument in this regard is the European Court of Human Rights, which addresses human rights violations at the individual level. The Committee of Ministers is then responsible for supervising the implementation of these decisions. Their non-implementation always remains an important topic of discussion. Also, we should never forget the historical context of Albania: to remember where the country was 35 years ago and where it is today. We can assess the current level and, perhaps, be critical, acknowledging that things could be better. But it is equally important to recognize the progress made and to maintain a dynamic perspective to ensure continued progress. As I mentioned earlier, when we identify an issue that requires resolution, we must undertake the necessary reforms. We are here precisely to do this together and to analyse the implications, especially in the context of the path to EU membership, aiming for good and long-term implementation. This, of course, implies that the discussion will be ongoing.
It is interesting to see how the Committee of Ministers addresses these issues of implementation of decisions. Of the 46 member states, almost all have such cases, which leads to political discussion. Implementation is not based on binding legal or police mechanisms. Instead, it relies on the political will to act together and on a kind of ‘friendly pressure’ from other states, which provide support and encouragement to take the necessary steps. This is an effective method of achieving progress collectively, in cooperation with partners.
Thank you very much for this interview.
Thank you. (A2 Televizion)
A2 CNN Livestream
MUND TE LEXONI GJITHASHTU
