Council of Europe Secretary General to Visit Slovenia for High-Level Talks and Bled Strategic Forum

Council of Europe Secretary General to Visit Slovenia for High-Level Talks and Bled Strategic Forum

This high-profile visit comes at a time of democratic backsliding, widespread disinformation campaigns, and shifting international dynamics in Europe.

RMN News Political Desk
August 30, 2025

Alain Berset, the Secretary General of the Council of Europe, is scheduled to visit Slovenia from 1-2 September 2025. This visit highlights the deepening partnership between Slovenia and the Council of Europe and Slovenia’s commitment to democratic resilience, multilateralism, and European values.

During his official visit, Secretary General Berset will engage in bilateral meetings with senior Slovenian officials. These include:

• Nataša Pirc Musar, President of Slovenia
• Tanja Fajon, Minister for Foreign and European Affairs
• Urška Klakočar Zupančič, President of the National Assembly

These discussions are expected to focus on democratic challenges across Europe and Slovenia’s continued support for the Council of Europe’s conventions and mechanisms. Slovenia has been a member of the Council of Europe since 14 May 1993 and is a party to over 100 conventions, actively promoting human rights, legal standards, and democratic governance. The country also actively contributes to the Register of Damage for Ukraine.

On 2 September at 13:30 CET, Mr. Berset will participate in a one-on-one session at the Bled Strategic Forum 2025, held at the Rikli Balance Hotel. The discussion at the forum will explore several key themes:

• Democracy under pressure: addressing threats to democratic institutions, processes, and norms.
• Disinformation and polarisation: tackling false narratives and societal divisions.
• Democratic security: safeguarding democratic values in a volatile geopolitical context.
• A renewed European order: shaping a stronger, more resilient Europe amid global power shifts.
• The future of multilateralism: strengthening cooperation through shared European values.

This high-profile visit comes at a time of democratic backsliding, widespread disinformation campaigns, and shifting international dynamics in Europe. The collaboration between the Council of Europe and its member states, such as Slovenia, remains critical in addressing these challenges, a message reinforced by the Secretary General’s engagement at the Bled Strategic Forum.