Europakonferansen 2025

Excellencies,

Ladies and gentlemen,

Good morning, everyone – and welcome to Kristiansand.

Eleanor Roosevelt once said:

“Where, after all, do universal human rights begin?
In small places, close to home – so close and so small that they cannot be seen on any maps of the world.
Yet they are the world of the individual person – the neighbourhood he lives in; the school or college he attends; the factory, farm, or office where he works. Such are the places where every man, woman, and child seeks equal justice, equal opportunity, equal dignity without discrimination.
Unless these rights have meaning there, they have little meaning anywhere.”

You are all gathered here to discuss democracy and human rights.

We just heard young peoples call to action.

I urge you all: Listen closely. I hope that you will take their words with you into your discussions over the next few days.

Inviting young people to this conference is a powerful act of democracy in itself. We need their knowledge and their perspectives.

As we see well-established structures falter and democratic principles come under pressure around the world, we must stand firm in defending our core values. We must never take democracy and human rights for granted, never stop working for what we believe in. And we all have a role to play.

We can speak up against bullying.
We can stand by marginalised people and help their stories to be heard.
We can embrace what make us different.
Show respect. Show kindness.

As Eleanor Roosevelt said:

“Where after all, do universal human rights begin?”

The sum of the choices each of us make – every day – shapes our society. It shapes who we are, and who we choose to be.

Ladies and gentlemen,
Thank you for being here.

Some of you are living under threat or contending with attacks on daily basis. You, more than anyone, understand the value of freedom – of democracy and human rights.
A special, warm welcome to you.

We must never stop finding common ground, like meeting each-other over coffee and discuss these issues, or meeting in conferences like this. That is how we build common ground – and resilience – in our societies.

Every voice matter, and every action counts.

I wish you all a good conference, and a good democracy week.