With just days to go before Monaco assumes the Presidency of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe for the first time in its history, senior officials met on Monday, May 11 at the Ministry of State for a final coordination session.
The steering committee meeting, chaired by Minister of State Christophe Mirmand alongside Isabelle Berro-Amadeï, brought together representatives from across Monaco’s institutions involved in preparing the six-month mandate.
It marked the final organisational step before Monaco formally takes over the rotating presidency of the Council of Europe’s decision-making body on May 15 — a responsibility the Principality will hold until November 10, 2026, following its accession to the organisation in 2004.
Opening the meeting, Mirmand described the upcoming presidency as a “truly historic milestone” for Monaco, highlighting what he called the “collective mobilisation” behind the preparation effort across government departments and public institutions.
Berro-Amadeï, presenting the strategic framework for the presidency, said the work now entered its operational phase. She outlined the guiding theme as: “Protection for all, through effective organisation, to respond to contemporary challenges.”
The programme will focus on several key priorities during Monaco’s tenure, including the fight against violence towards women, the protection of children and young people, strengthening the European Convention on Human Rights system, promoting sport as a tool for health and development, and tackling organised crime.
Officials also reviewed communication tools and public outreach strategies intended to accompany the presidency’s agenda across Europe during the six-month term.
The Council of Europe — made up of 46 member states — remains the continent’s leading institution for the protection of human rights, democracy and the rule of law. Monaco’s upcoming presidency represents a significant diplomatic moment for the Principality as it steps into a central coordinating role within the organisation for the first time.