Council of Europe Secretary General Alain Berset to Inaugurate New York Observer Office and Advance Transatlantic Dialogue

Council of Europe Secretary General Alain Berset will visit New York and Washington D.C. from September 20 to 26 to open a new Permanent Observer Office to the United Nations. This diplomatic milestone establishes a permanent platform to strengthen engagement between international and regional organizations amid growing geopolitical fragmentation. During his mission, Berset will meet with UN Secretary-General António Guterres and senior leaders across the Americas and Europe.

RMN News Political Desk
New Delhi | September 18, 2026

Establishing a Permanent Presence at the United Nations

Council of Europe Secretary General Alain Berset will travel to New York and Washington D.C. from September 20 to 26, 2026, marking a significant step in international diplomacy. On September 21, Berset will officially inaugurate the 46-member country organization’s new Permanent Observer Office to the United Nations in New York. The opening takes place during the UN General Assembly high-level week and addresses mounting pressure on global multilateral institutions.

The newly established office provides a permanent platform for closer dialogue with the United Nations, non-member states, and other international bodies. Against a backdrop of increasing geopolitical fragmentation, Secretary General Berset will advocate for stronger structural links between international and regional organizations to reinforce the international law-based order.

High-Level Engagements in New York

During his stay in New York, Secretary General Berset is scheduled to hold a bilateral meeting with UN Secretary-General António Guterres and other senior UN leaders. Additional discussions are planned with high-level representatives from the African Union Commission, the Arab League, the Gulf Cooperation Council, and Council of Europe member states.

Berset will attend the opening of the UN General Assembly general debate on September 22. He will also participate in a UN side event titled “Delivering social rights, renewing democracy: from Doha and Chișinău to a New Democratic Pact for Europe,” co-organized by the Council of Europe. Key agenda items across these engagements include Ukraine, democratic security, the future of international law, and navigating renewed great-power competition.

Promoting Transatlantic and Interregional Cooperation

Following his engagements in New York, Secretary General Berset will travel to Washington D.C. to reinforce transatlantic relationships. The year 2026 marks 30 years since the United States became an observer state to the Council of Europe. This anniversary provides a timely opportunity to examine the transatlantic partnership as Europe assumes greater responsibility for its security and democracies confront new technological and geopolitical challenges.

On September 24, Berset will meet with members of the United States Senate and House of Representatives, participate in a public discussion titled “A Conversation with Alain Berset” at Georgetown University, and visit the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum.

On September 25, Berset will meet with Organization of American States (OAS) Secretary General Albert Ramdin and address the OAS Permanent Council at its headquarters. The OAS represents 35 independent states across the Americas and acts as a central forum for regional political dialogue. Discussions will focus on democratic resilience, institutional challenges, and multilateral cooperation.

Deepening Institutional Partnerships

The Council of Europe and the OAS share a long-standing partnership founded on human rights, democracy, and the rule of law. Operational cooperation covers critical policy areas including constitutional law, cybercrime, artificial intelligence, anti-corruption measures, drug policy, and initiatives to combat violence against women. Furthermore, 30 OAS member states are parties to Council of Europe conventions.

Berset will conclude his visit to the United States by participating in a fireside discussion at the Hudson Institute focused on current challenges facing democracy, security, and the global order.