Strasbourg, — Last September 30th 2025, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) has re-elected Despina Chatzivassiliou as its Secretary General, granting her a second five-year term that will begin on 1 March 2026.
In her address to the Assembly following the vote, Chatzivassiliou expressed gratitude for the cross-party backing she received, calling it “a special honour and a great responsibility.” She dedicated the renewed mandate to the entire PACE Secretariat team, acknowledging their “outstanding work” and reaffirming her commitment to “defend the values of our Organisation and assist you in making the voice of PACE heard as loud as possible.”
Appointed in 2021 as the first woman ever to hold the post, Chatzivassiliou’s leadership has been marked by a drive to modernise the Assembly’s operations, improve gender equality, and enhance transparency and efficiency through the responsible use of digital tools and artificial intelligence. Her tenure has also been characterised by efforts to bolster co-operation between the Parliamentary Assembly, the Committee of Ministers, and the Secretary General of the Council of Europe, ensuring that PACE’s democratic oversight role remains central within the Organisation.
A Doctor of Law born in Athens in 1967, Chatzivassiliou earned her PhD on the European Convention on Human Rights from the European University Institute in Florence. She joined the Council of Europe in 1993, beginning her career at the European Commission of Human Rights — a foundation that shaped her long-standing dedication to the protection of human rights and the rule of law across Europe. She is the mother of two children, Ilia and Charles Tsovilis.
As Secretary General, Chatzivassiliou oversees the proper functioning of PACE, implements its decisions, and coordinates the work of its committees. She heads a secretariat of approximately 90 staff members who support the Assembly’s President and parliamentarians in conducting debates, preparing reports, and ensuring the effective running of parliamentary proceedings.
Her re-election signals continuity for an Assembly navigating complex European challenges — from democratic resilience to technological change — and reinforces PACE’s commitment to inclusivity, dialogue, and the principles enshrined in the Council of Europe’s founding values.
