Strasbourg, 1 March 2026 — Amid rising hostilities in Iran, Israel, and the Gulf, Council of Europe Secretary General Alain Berset calls for Europe to transcend crisis diplomacy and establish a binding legal framework among the Council’s 46 member states. In a statement from Strasbourg, Berset argues that Europe’s fragmented crisis responses are unsustainable, warning that “inaction is not prudence. It’s abdication.”
A crisis “at the immediate eastern borders” of the Council of Europe
Berset starkly assesses that the Middle East is nearing full-scale conflict near the Council of Europe’s eastern neighborhood, with civilians across Iran and the region suffering most. He emphasizes the erosion of rules meant to restrain force over military tactics.
“As missiles strike, international law is weaponised,” he states, highlighting a pattern where legal norms are selectively used, aggressively contested, or ignored.
From “discussion” to “strategic imperative”
Berset argues Europe needs more than concern and meetings. He calls for a common European legal framework to judge violations, assess force and sanctions, and ensure “continuous, coherent decisions without paralysis.”
He challenges the ad hoc coordination often seen in crises, noting Europe’s reliance on temporary formats “without a common legal basis, permanent decision-making authority, or continuity structures.” This leads to strategic inconsistency, leaving Europe reacting late, unevenly, and vulnerable to external events.
Rejecting binary framing—while insisting on the UN Charter
Berset warns against reducing the escalation to a choice between condemnation and support. Recent crises, he argues, reflect a deeper “deconstruction phase of the international legal order” where the “power of the strongest” prevails.
He calls for respect for international law, citing the UN Charter, and demands an “immediate cessation of hostilities by all parties.” He emphasizes rebuilding a credible legal basis for collective European action during escalations.
Diplomatic pressure grows as the UN Security Council convenes
Berset’s intervention comes amid international diplomacy to contain the escalation. The UN Security Council is expected to meet on the Iran conflict, according to Reuters. European leaders, including France, Germany, and the UK, urge negotiation to avoid wider destabilization, as reported by The Guardian.
The Council of Europe positions itself as an institutional voice emphasizing Europe’s credibility depends on how decisions are made, not just statements issued.
Next step: putting the crisis before the Council’s Committee of Ministers
Berset plans to address the Middle East escalation at the next Committee of Ministers meeting, aiming for a “collective reflection” on Europe’s coherent response “within a common legal framework.”
He warns that without “collective wider European security within a permanent and binding legal structure,” Europe remains reactive, and its security environment is shaped by others.
A familiar theme for Berset: defending Europe’s principles under strain
Berset’s message aligns with his focus since taking office: Europe’s stability relies on consistently defended rights and rules, especially during fear and polarization. Recently, Berset has worked to strengthen European coordination on protecting religious minorities, an issue highlighted by The European Times.
In the Middle East statement, he extends this logic to security crises: without a durable legal backbone and decision-making continuity, Europe risks a cycle of shock, improvisation, and drift.
“A test” of Europe’s role in the emerging order
Berset concludes with a challenge: the unfolding conflict is “a test of whether Europe intends to shape the emerging order or merely observe its fragmentation.”
For the Council of Europe, this statement asserts the centrality of law in European crisis response amidst military escalation, sanctions debates, and diplomatic ruptures. The question remains whether member states will see Berset’s call as a rhetorical warning or a call for institutional change.
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