Commissioner George Papandreou delivered the keynote address at the opening session of Geneva Democracy Week 2025, held at the Geneva Graduate Institute (IHEID), on the theme “Can Democracy Survive Polarization?”

Joined by Marie-Laure Salles, Director of IHEID, and Anne Hiltpold, Vice-President of the Geneva State Council, Commissioner Papandreou discussed the global decline of democratic institutions and its implications for governance and social inclusion – issues that also influence the design and implementation of drug policies. He emphasized that democracy is founded on dialogue and collective reasoning, principles that are equally essential for tackling complex policy challenges, including those related to health, justice, and human rights.

Watch the full keynote address here.