The Prince’s Palace was illuminated in blue on Friday evening to mark the beginning of Monaco’s six-month presidency of the Council of Europe Committee of Ministers, a historic first for the Principality…
The symbolic moment followed the conclusion of the organisation’s 135th ministerial session in Chișinău, Moldova, where Monaco officially took over the presidency from the Republic of Moldova. The handover represents a significant diplomatic milestone for Monaco, 22 years after joining the Council of Europe in 2004.
During the annual gathering, representatives of the organisation’s 46 member states discussed major European issues including support for Ukraine, accountability for war crimes, migration, foreign interference and the growing impact of disinformation and artificial intelligence on democratic societies.
Isabelle Berro-Amadeï described the presidency as both a historic responsibility and an opportunity for Monaco to reaffirm its commitment to democracy, human rights and the rule of law.
Monaco’s presidency will focus particularly on protecting vulnerable populations, especially women and children, while also addressing challenges linked to misinformation, social media, youth radicalisation and safer sport for children.
The official Strasbourg ceremony formalising Monaco’s presidency will take place next week, with the Principality expected to host and participate in numerous international events over the coming six months.
Image: Prince’s Palace