European Council leader says global instability is not unprecedented, urges strength in defence of democracy

The world is facing immense pressure on democracies and disregard for international law, but such crises are not without historical precedent, European Council Secretary General Alain Berset told LRT.lt in an interview on Wednesday.

“This is not the first time the world has gone mad like this,” Berset said. “I agree it’s an especially difficult moment now, but it’s not the first time we’ve seen things that completely violate international law—wars, human rights abuses that go unanswered, and much more. Clearly, this is a challenging period. That’s precisely why we must be strong.”

Berset expressed hope that Lithuania’s parliament would heed recommendations from the Venice Commission, the Council of Europe’s advisory body on constitutional law, regarding proposed amendments to the law governing public broadcaster LRT. The changes have sparked debate over media independence in the country.

He also addressed ongoing discussions among European Council members on migration challenges, noting that a group of nine states had pushed for a political declaration on the issue but had not sought binding changes to the European Convention on Human Rights.

Lithuania’s media law reforms under scrutiny

When asked whether Lithuania’s planned reforms to its national radio and television law—criticised for potentially undermining LRT’s independence—had been raised in his meetings with Lithuanian officials, Berset confirmed the issue had been discussed.

“We highlighted several points: the law itself and the legislative process,” he said. “We welcome that the country sought the Venice Commission’s advice.” While the request formally came from LRT rather than the government, Berset noted that Lithuania had waited for the Commission’s assessment before finalising its decisions—a step he called positive.

“We hope the recommendations will be taken into account,” he said. “If you ask for the Venice Commission’s opinion, you should take it seriously. The context differs between countries, but both the Commission and the European Court of Human Rights set common legal benchmarks. It’s important to respect them.”

Berset added that democratic principles globally were under strain, including the conditions necessary for democracy to function—such as a culture of debate, the ability to distinguish fact from opinion, and resistance to disinformation and AI-generated falsehoods. “In this broad context, public broadcasters play a crucial role,” he said.

Migration and human rights: a delicate balance

On migration, Berset acknowledged that some member states had sought to limit the European Court of Human Rights’ involvement in asylum cases, particularly those concerning same-sex couples whose partnerships are not legally recognised in certain countries, including Lithuania.

“There was a discussion initiated by nine states about the Convention’s provisions on migration, but it only went as far as a political declaration—not further,” he said. The focus, he added, remained on national solutions rather than pressuring the Court.

Despite current geopolitical tensions, Berset said he did not believe international law would collapse. “This isn’t the first time the world has faced such madness,” he reiterated. “We must stay strong.”