On 3 November 2026, the President of the Court, Mattias Guyomar, delivered opening remarks at the World Forum for Democracy 2026, held at the headquarters of the Council of Europe in Strasbourg. 

He noted that in the face of threats to democracy and the rule of law, the Court has shown that it is able to do its part.

“Our judgments are not simply words on paper. They are tools against lawlessness, arbitrariness, chaos, and war. Tools for defending truly resilient democracies through resilient justice,” President Guyomar highlighted, adding: “We fully count on you, young generations, to turn the dream of our predecessors into the reality of the future.”

The Registrar of the Court, Marialena Tsirli, participated in a debate entitled Putting Council of Europe Insights to the Test. She spoke about how the Court, through its case-law and alongside other Council of Europe bodies and mechanisms, works to guarantee the common European legal order and helps to strengthen democratic resilience. 

• Opening remarks by President Mattias Guyomar