Madam President,

Esteemed colleagues,

I want to thank you for your warm welcome. Indeed, for me, this is also a homecoming, for I myself have for many years been a part of this Parliamentary Assembly. Upon my election to the German Bundestag in 1995, I was immediately made a member of the German delegation. Later, I served as a substitute. And I gladly think back to that time, which shaped my approach to policy-making to this day.

I think back to the topics we discussed in the Assembly – ranging from human rights in general and press freedom in particular, to the conduct of free and fair elections.

I think back to the open exchange I had with my colleagues – with discussions that were unaffected by the political constellation in our home countries.

I think back to the fresh perspectives this opened up when you examined things from a different angle and with new arguments.

Incidentally, a 2012 vote I participated in proved to be particularly prescient, namely the introduction of Italian and German as official languages of the Parliamentary Assembly. Thanks to that decision, I – as German Foreign Minister – can address you today in German.

Esteemed colleagues,

The Council of Europe holds special significance, not only for me personally but also for my entire country.

For the Council of Europe was the very first multilateral institution to which the Federal Republic of Germany acceded after the Second World War.

Even prior to the formal re-establishment of Germany as a state, a German delegation in 1948 participated in deliberations on the creation of the Council of Europe.

All founding members had vivid memories of the indescribable crimes committed by the Nazi regime: they had witnessed firsthand how Germany had plunged the European continent into a brutal war of annihilation.

Consequently, they shared the profound conviction that lasting peace in Europe could only be established on the basis of common values.

And that “Human Rights, Democracy and the Rule of Law” should be the three pillars of the Council of Europe.

This conviction is more important today than ever before.

For more than four years now, we have been witnessing Putin’s brutal and illegal war of aggression against Ukraine.

As Putin has to date failed to achieve the outcome he desires, he continues to search for ways to break the spirit of resistance of the people of Ukraine.

Especially with a view to the approaching winter, Russia is systematically targeting civilian heating and energy infrastructure.

Putin is thus willing to accept thousands of deaths and injuries – no least among his own population.

It was therefore right to terminate Russia’s membership in the Council of Europe on 16 March 2022. The Russian Delegation’s Parliamentary Assembly voting rights had been restored as recently as 2019. But Putin refused to take the outstretched hand.

There is no room in this Assembly for those who wage illegal wars of aggression!

But that is not all. Russia’s aggression has long since ceased to be confined to the borders of Ukraine.

With attacks targeting Ukrainian ports, Russia is preventing the export of vital grain shipments. We are talking about millions of people who are suffering as a result of this.

And then there are hybrid attacks, as we in Germany experienced only recently with the drone incident in Leipzig.

And we are not the only ones. Many of our fellow member states are experiencing cyberattacks and attempts to sabotage critical infrastructure.

Only today, our Estonian friends announced that Russia was clearly responsible for the arson attack in Tallinn on the night of 14 to 15 August.

And then there are the wide-ranging propaganda and disinformation campaigns.

All this because Putin is under the illusion that, through these actions, he can sow uncertainty in our free societies.

Because he wants to weaken our democratic institutions and end our support for Ukraine.

Esteemed colleagues,

Precisely the opposite is the case.

We stand firmly by the side of the Ukrainian people.

Because they are defending not only their own, but also our collective freedom.

It is Putin who is blocking the path to a ceasefire.

Despite international mediation efforts, despite increasing pressure due to sanctions and despite immense own losses, he is showing no genuine willingness to negotiate.

However, it is clear that this terrible war, too, will one day end.

And precisely regarding “what comes after”, the reconstruction of Ukraine and addressing past war crimes, the Council of Europe can play a key role.

Because it is already committed to accountability, to ensuring that the suffering of the Ukrainian people is documented.

That their demands are heard.

That those responsible for the crime of aggression can be held accountable.

The Council of Europe is helping to lay the institutional foundations for justice and reparations.

Through the Register of Damage, the International Claims Commission for Ukraine and the Special Tribunal for the Crime of Aggression against Ukraine.

We will complete our ratification process for Germany’s accession to the Convention establishing an International Claims Commission by the end of the year.

And we are committed to ensuring that the Special Tribunal can be established as soon as possible.

Ladies and gentlemen,

In this way, the Council of Europe is defending the rule of law and human rights as the very foundation of our democracies – and this applies far beyond Ukraine.

It is committed to ensuring that every person can rely on the protection of their individual rights and fundamental freedoms.

Ensuring that people have the freedom of expression and the freedom of assembly.

Ensuring that courts can deliver their judgments free of political influence, and that these judgments are effectively enforced.

Ensuring that elections are not elections in name only – something Russia’s leadership again demonstrated only recently – but that they are genuinely free and fair.

Ensuring that clear limits are placed on state power.

You, ladies and gentlemen, as representatives of your respective member states, strive to establish the best possible legal frameworks for your societies, by drawing up legislation that also takes into account the legal corpus of the Council of Europe.

You – we all! – have every reason to ensure that these laws are then also respected, so as to give the rule of law actual meaning!

Esteemed colleagues,

The Council of Europe is not only an organisation that responds to wars and crises.

It is a place that reminds us of something incredibly important.

That democracy is not a state of affairs that is achieved once and then lasts forever.

That democracy rather must be defended, renewed and lived out again and again – every day.

Especially today, when our shared values are being called into question in many places.

In times when digital influence and new technologies – especially artificial intelligence – are transforming our public debates.

In times when our democratic institutions and the independence of the judiciary are under threat, both externally and internally.

Our response to this must not be less democracy.

It must instead be more democracy – and most importantly: a more resilient democracy.

Here, I believe, lies a particular strength of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe:

It brings together the democratically elected representatives of our states.

The Parliamentary Assembly gathers representatives who are not always of the same opinion, but who stand on the same European foundation.

It is in particular this ability to engage in dialogue that is incredibly valuable these days.

Keeping up this dialogue – as the basis of our democracies – is what I believe to be the key task of the Parliamentary Assembly, now and in the future!

I also firmly believe that, in these times of upheaval, the Council of Europe should reflect on what makes it and its Parliamentary Assembly unique.

Namely, its core mandate: prioritising democracy, human rights and the rule of law in its work.

But it must also further develop that core mandate, wherever new challenges require it.

This includes further developing existing conventions and creating new common standards.

For example, the Council of Europe has been at the forefront of efforts to monitor AI from the very beginning, pioneering the adoption of norms in this domain.

We need both this focus on the future and a focus on what is essential.

Esteemed colleagues,

Russia’s war of aggression, the situation in the Middle East, great power competition between the United States and China, migration flows, the effects of climate change, the rise of autocracies, cooperation with our neighbouring states and the involvement of young people – for whose interests the Council of Europe is a strong advocate – these are only a few examples of the issues I deal with every day.

The fact is that today’s geopolitical situation is anything but easy.

Often, the world serves up yet another new crisis while we are still searching for answers to the crises we are already facing.

Especially in these turbulent times, both as German Foreign Minister and as a former representative, I want to make a firm case for the Council of Europe and its Parliamentary Assembly.

This organisation is an historic achievement!

Without the Council of Europe, Europe would be poorer and less stable, have less legal certainty, be less free and less democratic.

The Council of Europe enables you, dear colleagues, to actively shape our collective future and jointly address the challenges of today and tomorrow.

This precisely is your strength – as well as our collective responsibility.

Thank you very much – and now I look forward to our discussion.