The Principality of Monaco has reached the significant milestone of 20 years of active participation in the Council of Europe, an anniversary that was celebrated with a series of special events, as well as an important new appointment, in Strasbourg over the last few days.
Prince Albert II of Monaco headed to the Council of Europe’s headquarters in Strasbourg on 2nd October to attend the inauguration of a multi-media exhibition at the Palace of Europe that explores the Principality’s accession to the Council.
In a speech made before those gathered at the event, Prince Albert said, “On 5th October 2004, I came to this historic building for the first time to sign, on behalf of my father, Prince Rainier III, the act of Monaco’s accession to the Council of Europe. 20 years later, we are gathered here again to celebrate this anniversary and to reaffirm our unwavering commitment to the three pillars of this institution. The exhibition, the film and the artwork that you will soon discover are all testimonies illustrating our past and present determination to share our common values. These are the values of human rights, the rule of law and democracy.”
The display is the result of a collaboration between Monaco’s National Council and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, in collaboration with the Archives of the Prince’s Palace, the Central Archive and Administrative Documentation Service, and the Audiovisual Institute of Monaco. The Prince was joined at the event by: the Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Alain Berset; the President of the National Council, Thomas Brezzo; Monaco’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, Isabelle Berro-Amadei; and the Principality’s official Ambassador to the Council of Europe, Gabriel Revel.
Revel recently assumed the Presidency of the Council’s Rapporteur Group on Legal Questions, an appointment lauded as a positive reflection of Monaco’s ongoing commitments to European cooperation and legal reform.
Revel held his first meeting in this capacity on 26th September, having been appointed to the role by the Council’s 46 member states. He will serve a two-year term, expiring on 31st August 2026.
The Rapporteur Group on Legal Questions is one of seven key subsidiary bodies of the Committee of Ministers, and it is responsible for monitoring the activities of intergovernmental committees focused on the rule of law. The Group also plays a vital role in discussing draft international conventions. This marks Monaco’s second presidency of a Rapporteur Group, following the former Ambassador Rémi Mortier’s tenure at the head of the Rapporteur Group on External Relations between 2019 and 2021.
A piece of artwork by Monaco’s resident street artist extraordinaire, Mr One Teas, was also unveiled during Prince Albert’s time in Strasbourg. Entitled ‘Ode to Freedom’, it is said to represent an open window on human rights and will be gifted to the Council of Europe.
Prior to the Monegasque sovereign’s visit, a delegation from the Mairie de Monaco made the trip to the northeast of France to attended a series of commemorative events and occasions marking the Principality’s 20-year anniversary.
Led by Deputy Mayor Marjorie Crovetto, who serves as Vice-President of Monaco’s Delegation to the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities, the group included: Jacques Pastor, Deputy Mayor and substitute for Crovetto in the Chamber of Regions; and Nada Lorenzi, Municipal Councillor and substitute for the Mayor in the Chamber of Local Authorities.
Read related:
Monaco Life is produced by real multi-media journalists writing original content. See more in our free newsletter, follow our Podcasts on Spotify, and check us out on Threads, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and Tik Tok.
Photo credits: Stéphane Danna / Monaco Communications Department