Monaco’s Consultative Commission on Public Interest Archives convened for its fourth session on January 28 at the Ministry of State, reaffirming the Principality’s commitment to preserving and modernising its archival heritage. Led by Jean-Charles Curau and attended by Government Secretary General Marc Vassallo, the meeting provided an update on recent progress in archival management.

A key highlight was the presentation of the 2024 activity report from the Mission de Préfiguration des Archives Nationales (MPAN) and the Central Service for Administrative Archives and Documentation (SCADA). Over the past year, significant advancements have been made in archival training, private archive collection, digitisation, restoration, and cataloging efforts.

One milestone discussed was the recent deposit of historic National Council archives with the MPAN, following a similar contribution from the Monaco Scientific Center last year. These are the first public archives outside the Executive branch to be entrusted to the National Archives initiative, marking a critical step toward a more comprehensive national archival system. Talks are ongoing with other major institutions to expand participation in this collective effort.

Beyond reviewing progress, the meeting also tackled key issues such as municipal archive management and balancing data protection with historical preservation. The discussion underscored the importance of safeguarding personal data with historical, scientific, or statistical value for future generations.

The Commission adopted several recommendations aimed at further modernising Monaco’s public and semi-public archival infrastructure.