Secretary General Berset Visits UK for Diplomatic Discussions on Law, Security and Migration
Summary
Council of Europe Secretary General Alain Berset will visit the United Kingdom on 22-23 April 2026 for diplomatic discussions with senior UK government officials including Prime Minister Starmer. The visit will focus on threats to democracy and rule of law, migration policy negotiations linked to the European Convention on Human Rights, and ongoing support for Ukraine. Berset will also speak at Oxford University and meet with the Attorney General and House of Commons Speaker.
What changed
The Council of Europe announced an official visit by Secretary General Alain Berset to the United Kingdom scheduled for 22-23 April 2026. The visit will include meetings with Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy, and other senior ministers to discuss international law, democratic security, and migration policy. Discussions will address ongoing negotiations toward a political declaration on migration and the European Convention on Human Rights ahead of the May 15 foreign ministers meeting in Moldova. Berset will deliver a speech on democratic security at Oxford University.
This visit represents routine diplomatic engagement between the Council of Europe and a founding member state. No regulatory changes, compliance obligations, or new policies are being announced. The visit does not create any new legal requirements for businesses, individuals, or regulated entities in the UK or elsewhere.
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Apr 20, 2026GovPing captured this document from the original source. If the source has since changed or been removed, this is the text as it existed at that time.
Secretary General Alain Berset on official visit to the United Kingdom
Discussions to focus on international law, democratic security and migration
Secretary General Berset will meet with Prime Minister Starmer while in London
The Secretary General of the 46-member Council of Europe, Alain Berset, will pay an official visit to the United Kingdom on Wednesday 22 and Thursday 23 April.
Speaking ahead of the visit, the Secretary General said: “The United Kingdom was a driving force in setting up the Council of Europe and the European Convention on Human Rights, and the UK has played a key role in shaping our organisation ever since.
“In these turbulent times, it is essential that we work together to address pressing issues, guided by our shared core values. These include threats to democracy and the rule of law, managing migration and ensuring accountability for Ukraine.”
Senior UK government figures to meet with Secretary General Berset
During the visit, Secretary General Berset will meet UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy, Minister for the Cabinet Office Nick Thomas-Symonds, Secretary of State for Northern Ireland Hilary Benn and Chris Elmore, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State in the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.
Discussions are expected to focus on recent geopolitical developments, including conflict in the Middle East, the importance of democratic security in the face of significant challenges to the international rule of law, and the Council of Europe’s priority work in support of Ukraine.
On-going negotiations towards a political declaration on issues related to migration and the European Convention on Human Rights will also be discussed, ahead of the forthcoming meeting of Council of Europe foreign ministers in Chisinau (Republic of Moldova) on 15 May.
On Thursday 23 April, Secretary General Berset will speak alongside Attorney General Lord Hermer KC at a joint event on "Democratic Security after the Rupture" at Oxford University ’s Bonavero Institute of Human Rights.
During the visit, the Secretary General will also meet London-based ambassadors from the 46 Council of Europe member states and members of the Attorney General’s Youth Ambassadors Programme, as well as taking part in an event at the House of Commons alongside Speaker Lindsay Hoyle and Daiga Mieriņa, Speaker of the Latvian Parliament.
Secretary General Alain Berset
The United Kingdom and the Council of Europe
The Impact of the European Convention on Human Rights in the United Kingdom
European Court of Human Rights “Country profile” on the United Kingdom (pdf)
Secretary General Strasbourg 20 April 2026
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