Monaco will host the 1567th meeting of the Ministers’ Deputies on 2nd September, welcoming ambassadors and permanent representatives from the 46 member states of the Council of Europe as part of the Principality’s Presidency of the Committee of Ministers.
Founded in 1949, the Council is the continent’s leading organisation for the defence of human rights, the rule of law, and democracy, uniting over 700 million citizens.
During the thematic debate, experts – including Dr. Céline Dubreuil-Degortes from the Ocean Policy Directorate at the Oceanographic Institute – will present scientific findings, legal challenges, and policy perspectives to inform intergovernmental discussions.
Ambassador Gabriel Revel, Permanent Representative of Monaco to the Council of Europe, explained that focusing on the environment reflects the Principality’s long-term commitment to combating climate change and halting biodiversity loss under the drive of the Sovereign Prince. “Monaco places these issues at the heart of its international action and contributes actively to multilateral initiatives aiming to promote more sustainable development,” he said.
He added that the debate aligns directly with commitments made at the 4th Summit of Heads of State and Government of the Council of Europe in Reykjavík in 2023, which recognised the urgent need to address the impact of environmental degradation on the exercise of fundamental human rights.
Resuming work at the Oceanographic Museum
While the committee – the main decision-making organ of the Council – usually convenes weekly at the organisation’s headquarters in Strasbourg alongside an annual ministerial-level gathering, this particular session marks the autumn resumption of work following the summer break.
The high-profile gathering will take place exceptionally at the Oceanographic Museum of Monaco. It will open with remarks from Isabelle Berro-Amadeï, Government Counsellor and Minister for External Relations and Cooperation, who serves as President of the Committee of Ministers. The proceedings will be chaired by Ambassador Revel.
Discussing the significance of moving the session to the Mediterranean, Ambassador Revel said that it follows a tradition where states holding the rotating presidency welcome the Deputies to their national territory. “It is appreciated by the delegations that the states holding the Presidency of the Committee of Ministers organise, during their mandate, a meeting of the Committee of Ministers’ Deputies on their territory,” Ambassador Revel explained, adding that it offers visiting diplomats a unique opportunity to “discover the heritage, history, and specifics of the country that assumes the Presidency.”
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Isabelle Berro-Amadeï receives the symbolic keys of the Committee of Ministers from Moldova’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mihai Popșoi, as Monaco takes over the rotating presidency of the Council of Europe. Photo credit: Government Communications Department