Churchill Lecture

From Zurich to Strasbourg: European unity in a time of war and rupture

Datum
16. September 2026
Uhrzeit
18:00 - 19:15 Uhr

Ort

Universität Zürich, Aula KOL-G-201
Rämistrasse 71
8006 Zürich
Referierende
Alain Berset
Preis
CHF 0.00

From Zurich to Strasbourg: European unity in a time of war and rupture

On 19 September 1946, in his historic Zurich speech, Winston Churchill called for the creation of a Council of Europe as a first step towards rebuilding the European family. Less than three years later, on 5 May 1949, that call became reality. Marking the eightieth anniversary of Churchill’s speech, Alain Berset, Secretary General of the Council of Europe, will address the future of European security at a time when war is raging in Europe and at its borders, democratic backsliding is deepening, and the post-war international legal order is experiencing its most profound rupture in decades. The lecture will explore how the values that inspired the creation of the Council of Europe – democracy, human rights and the rule of law – have helped build a common legal space across Europe, and why they remain indispensable in responding to today’s political and security challenges.

 

Free entry. Registration mandatory. Limited seating capacity.
Additional seats are available in the live broadcast room KOL-G-217.

CHF 0.00

Referierende

Alain Berset

Secretary General of the Council of Europe

Alain Berset became Secretary General of the Council of Europe on 18 September 2024.
Between 2012 and 2023, he was an elected Minister in the Swiss government (Federal Council). He headed the Federal Department of Home Affairs, with responsibility for health, social affairs, culture, equality and anti-discrimination, and led Switzerland’s public health response during the Covid-19 pandemic. He served as President of the Swiss Confederation in 2018 and 2023. In 2003, he was elected to the Council of States and served as its President from 2008 to 2009. From 2005 to 2011, he was Vice-Chair of the Socialist Group in the Federal Parliament.
He holds an MSc in political science and a PhD in economics.

Sprache

Englisch

Flyer / Programm

Podcast

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16. September 2026

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