Europe Day

Bern, 05.05.2024 - Message from President Viola Amherd to mark Europe Day, Sunday, 5 May 2024.

This year's Europe Day marks the 75th anniversary of the founding of the Council of Europe. It was set up to rebuild our continent after the devastation of the Second World War, and today we can say that it has been a success. It was also thanks to the Council of Europe that democracy, human rights and the rule of law were re-established and more firmly anchored in Europe. In view of increasing authoritarian tendencies, its work is just as urgently needed today as it has been in the past.

That is why Switzerland plays an active part in the Council of Europe. Although our country was not a member from the outset when it was founded on 5 May 1949, it did join soon after in 1963. In submitting its candidature for the office of Secretary General of the Council of Europe Switzerland is reaffirming its commitment to the institution and thus to a rules-based, democratic and peaceful Europe. We will soon be celebrating another anniversary in Switzerland's relations with the Council of Europe, as it is almost 50 since Switzerland ratified the European Convention on Human Rights on 28 November 1974. The European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg monitors compliance with the Convention, which guarantees fundamental rights such as the right to life, the prohibition of torture and the right to a fair trial. It also provides a judicial control mechanism. Anyone who claims that their rights under the Convention have been violated can apply to the Strasbourg Court after exhausting domestic remedies. This has created an area in Europe in which the rights of many millions of people are protected. Recently, the Court ruffled feathers with its ruling on Switzerland's climate policy. The federal government is currently examining what lessons need to be learnt from the ruling. In the medium and long term, the rights enjoyed by every single person in Switzerland and the standing of the rule of law across the continent are more important than individual rulings.

Our continent is one of the smallest, its share of the world's population is declining, as is its share of the global economy. Furthermore, Russia's war (of aggression) against Ukraine poses a particular threat to our security and prosperity. If we, as Europeans, are eager for our political, economic and social model to retain its influence and serve as inspiration to the world, it is imperative that we call to mind the lessons from the past. That means being committed to defending the values that Europe has played a key role in shaping: democracy, the rule of law, human rights and social balance. At the Reykjavík Summit in 2023, the countries of the Council of Europe reaffirmed this core mission, discussed the impact of new technologies on democratic processes and gave the organisation fresh political impetus with their decisions - just in time for its 75th anniversary. So today, with a look back and a look forward, is also an occasion for self-confidence and optimism: even the most difficult situations can give rise to something promising for the future, as the founding of the Council of Europe in 1949 proved. So today, looking both to the past and to the future, is also a day for self-confidence and optimism, because even the most difficult situations can give rise to promising projects for the future, just like the creation of the Council of Europe in 1949.

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