No Prosperity Without Rule of Law: Council of Europe Leader to Deliver Stern Warning at Davos

No Prosperity Without Rule of Law: Council of Europe Leader to Deliver Stern Warning at Davos

The Secretary General is expected to highlight how corruption and attacks on independent institutions distort market competition and weaken overall growth.

RMN News Political Desk
New Delhi | January 13, 2026

STRASBOURG — Secretary General Alain Berset of the Council of Europe is set to attend the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, on January 19-20, with a singular message for global leaders: sustainable economic prosperity cannot exist without the rule of law,.

As geopolitical and economic uncertainty grows, Berset intends to emphasize that while capital and innovation are vital, global markets fundamentally rely on trust, predictability, and legal certainty to function effectively. He warned that the current erosion of democratic standards and judicial independence is not merely a political concern but a “direct threat to economic stability and investment”.

“When law gives way to arbitrariness, investment retreats, risk rises and prosperity fractures,” Berset stated ahead of the forum,.

The Economic Cost of Corruption: The Secretary General is expected to highlight how corruption and attacks on independent institutions distort market competition and weaken overall growth. According to Berset, integrity is the bedrock of trust; when corruption remains unpunished, both citizens and markets lose confidence in the democratic system.

To combat these trends, the Council of Europe is championing the New Democratic Pact for Europe. This initiative calls on governments and economic actors to strengthen the integrity of democratic institutions, which Berset describes as the essential foundations for a stable and competitive investment climate.

Regulating the Digital Frontier: In addition to traditional governance, Berset will address the burgeoning challenges of Artificial Intelligence (AI). He will promote the Council of Europe’s Framework Convention on AI, which seeks to provide enforceable guidelines for transparency, accountability, and human oversight. The Council argues that these regulations provide necessary legal certainty for innovators and investors while simultaneously protecting fundamental rights.

During the two-day event, the Secretary General will participate in various panel discussions and bilateral meetings to further these objectives.